When I heard Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge were going to join forces and present two one act monologues, I had to go. These famous actors have been exceptional on the New York stage in recent years. Mr. Sturridge was nominated for a Tony for his work in Orphans and was phenomenal in the memorable 1984. I was first impressed by Mr. Gyllenhaal in an off-Broadway production of If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet. His George Seurat in Sunday In the Park With George was excellent. In Sea Wall/A Life, these actors tackle plays by two different authors but with linked themes.
Mr. Sturridge’s Sea Wall is first. His young man seems casual and guarded but then settles in to talk about how his life came together. Marriage and a child were revelations. His family travels to France to vacation with her father, enjoying time by the sea. At the beach he realizes that he is “the mathematical direct polar opposite of Daniel Craig.” He is wry and endearing. A tragedy occurs which shakes them all to their core. The description of grieving and loss is understated and painful. Simon Stephens, the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and On the Shore of the Wide World, created a character who may never heal. When he walks off stage, the sadness looms.
Nick Payne wrote Constellations which starred Mr. Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson on Broadway. That play featured quick changes in time and story as is the case with A Life. Like Sea Wall, this story also features a young man who is facing a marriage and fatherhood but also dealing with an elderly parent. Bouncing back and forth between storylines, Mr. Gyllenhaal’s delivery was casual and relaxed. He stands in a spotlight as if he were performing a routine. The setting seemed odd given the moody lighting and expansive use of the two tier stage in Sea Wall. Sadness was conceptual here rather than fully realized.
For theatergoers looking to watch fine actors take on serious and depressing fare, there are rewards in Sea Wall/A Life. If both parts were equal in quality, I would recommend giving this a try. There were quite a few people seated near us who came to see stars. They were clearly not connected to the material. After the play ended, the guy in front of me apologized to his friends for buying tickets. I appreciated the opportunity to let these stories wash over me. I just wished I had been less disappointed. The two plays work well together thematically. One is just far more riveting.