THE HANGOVER REPORT – Theatre Re’s near wordless THE NATURE OF FORGETTING is a gorgeous portrait of early onset dementia

The ensemble of Theatre Re's "The Nature of Forgetting" at the New Victory Theater.

The ensemble of Theatre Re’s “The Nature of Forgetting” at the New Victory Theater.

Playing through just this weekend is a marvelous, soulful piece of physical theater entitled The Nature of Forgetting at the New Victory Theater, courtesy of the London-based Theatre Re. The show, a vehicle for the mime/movement mode of performance, paints a portrait of Tom, a middle-aged man struggling with early onset dementia. As he celebrates his 55th birthday with his daughter and his childhood friends, a collage of memories from the past both merge and continue to fade, to heartbreaking effect.

I applaud the New Victory for programming such a non-traditional piece of theater for their built-in set of young audience members. Indeed, The Nature of Forgetting is bound to get many a young theatergoer (the show is recommended for those aged 9 and up) to start thinking thoughtfully about more abstract concepts such as memory, as well as introduce them to non-linear and movement-based storytelling. Within an eventful and captivating 75-minutes, Theatre Re’s production also packs in an awful lot in terms of plot and onstage physical activity, ensuring maximum engagement throughout.

Performed with astounding precision and flair by a tight ensemble of just four – in addition to a couple of fabulous live onstage musicians – the near wordless production comes together poignantly, thanks to director Guillaume Pigé’s rich, seamless work (Mr. Pigé also deeply impresses in the taxing main role of Tom). His physical, highly emotive manifestation of early onset dimentia is both ravishingly poetic and remarkably accessible. Regardless of the show’s young target audience, Theatre Re’s production should have no problem resonating with theatergoers of all ages. At the end of the day, aren’t we all sill young adults, or old children? The Nature of Forgetting isn’t just gorgeous theatrical storytelling for kids, it’s just plain gorgeous theater-making, period.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

THE NATURE OF FORGETTING
Off-Broadway, Performance
Theatre Re at the New Victory Theater
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 31

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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