There are certain playwrights whose work invites some of the finest actors to tackle truly challenging parts. French writer Florian Zeller is one such playwright. His play The Father opened on Broadway in 2015 with Frank Langella and it earned the actor his fourth Tony Award. No doubt Alfred Molina, who takes on the role in a new production at the Pasadena Playhouse, will earn equally high praise.
The Father officially opens at the Pasadena Playhouse on February 11th and will continue with performances through March 1st.
This is one of those plays where the less you know the more you’ll get from the play. What I can tell you is that, Andre, the title character, is suffering from dementia. What is real and what isn’t vacillates as is common with people suffering from the disease.
Some of the character names might hint as to what’s going on, but you won’t know (nor will I) until we see the play. Sue Cremin plays Anne, his daughter. Michael Manuel plays Pierre, Pia Shah plays Laura, Robert Mammana plays Man and Lisa Renee Pitts plays Woman.
Jessica Kubzansky directs The Father. The translation is by Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses).
But I can give you one overwhelmingly powerful reason to see this play: Alfred Molina. Whether you know him from film (Prick Up Your Ears, Spider-Man 2, Love is Strange) or his work on stage (Red at the Mark Taper Forum, Art and Fiddler on the Roof), you know how powerful an actor he is.
I attended opening night and can tell you definitively that Alfred Molina gives the best performance of his career in The Father. On both a physical and an emotional level, this is truly amazing work. Any fan of great acting will not want to miss this performance.
The Father runs 90 minutes with no intermission.
For tickets go here.
Photo: Alfred Molina & Pia Shah in The Father at Pasadena Playhouse (Photo by Jenny Graham/Courtesy of the Pasadena Playhouse)