“Closer” – a play by Patrick Marber

Closer – a play by Patrick Marber

The Donmar Warehouse until 4th April 2015

www.donmarwarehouse.com

The Donmar Warehouse’s revival of Patrick Marber’s 1997 award winning play has not mellowed at all and has become an even more brutal undressing of relationships.

To state the obvious it’s a very male view of the world. The plot revolves round two couples entangled in some hard core emotional debates: love versus sex, truth versus betrayal, remorse versus guilt. But tenderness is completely absent from Marber’s story as he displays that, ultimately, relationships are bound to self-destruct. For two and half hours the four characters compete in truth searching games yet when the truth arrives it is quickly abandoned because of course no one wants to assume the accompanying burden of guilt. On one level, Closer serves as a massive dump fest for relationship cynics because it violates all emotional connections. But of course Marber’s writing is brilliant. The script is simultaneously cutting, poignant and funny. “Falling in love versus falling into temptation” struck a chord as did “juggernaut of baggage”,the second quote referring to the male propensity to suddenly complicate relationships.

Rufus Sewell and Oliver Chris are excellent as the male protagonists, Larry and Dan, storming through women while soaking up Marber’s language perfectly. Nancy Carroll (Anna) had great delivery and many comic moments but she and the last of the line up, Rachel Redford (Alice) lacked the edge to carry the play through.

However it is the conclusion that is so stark; women continue their search for emotional fulfilment whereas men…. let’s revisit the play’s infamous internet chat room scene and: “All hail the Sultan”.