by Dan Mayer
Does anyone have the right to say what a writer can and can’t write about? The Pillowman doesn’t really answer this question, but it certainly plays with the idea. Albany Civic Theater showcases an outstanding production of a play that is challenging to watch.
It needs to be said from the start that this cast is phenomenal. Daniel Perez (Ariel) is a walking conflagration of rage, sometimes comically so, eventually simmering down to deliver unexpected depths of his character. Marty O’Connor (Tupolski) brings a more measured intensity by contrast, and is downright spellbinding by the second act. Alexander Benson (Katurian) plays off of both of them spectacularly, as well as showing impressive emotional range in the heavy family drama that plays out with Aidan Thomas McKenna (Michal). McKenna has a talent for being both childishly affable and obnoxious, and even at his creepiest moments still comes off more pitiable than menacing. Everyone understands their characters and delivers them in pitch-perfect style.
The story is about an amateur writer in a totalitarian state who is taken into custody, interrogated and tortured for reasons he is unsure of. While this seems to set up a familiar story about art being stamped out by fascism, Katurian is actually being investigated in connection with a series of grisly child murders that bear striking resemblance to some of his short stories. Playwright Martin McDonagh seems to delight in making the audience unsure of what’s really happening, toying with the idea that none of this is real, that the state is framing him because they simply see his writing as immoral, but the crimes are very real, as is his connection to them. The overall narrative feels a lot like Katurian’s stories within the world of the play, reading like a grim parable (maybe even a Grimm parable) that unsettles and draws uncomfortable laughs from the audience, but the moral of the story is never clear. The Pillowman invites speculation, but doesn’t offer any answers, and that seems to be by design.
The humor may be the hardest part to get on board with, though it is funny. It’s difficult to tell how much of what the audience is seeing should be taken seriously when so many deadly serious moments are played for laughs. There’s nothing wrong with gallows humor, but something about the blend of comedy and tragedy in The Pillowman feels slightly off.
This is a hard show to recommend, which is a shame because I really did enjoy it. If you can stomach the dark-as-midnight subject matter, and don’t mind being made to laugh at torture and police brutality, this is certainly a production that will move you to think about the nature and purpose of art and storytelling. That said, you may find yourself asking, “why would someone write this?”
Albany Civic Theater presents The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, directed by Ellen Cribbs, runs from February 14th to March 2nd, at Albany Civic Theater, 235 Second Avenue in Albany, NY. Cast: Alexander Benson as Katurian, Marty O’Connor as Tupolski, Daniel Perez as Ariel, Aidan Thomas McKenna as Michal. Aaron Wood and Jonah Wood as Young Katurians, Nick Martiniano as Father, and Sara Anderson as Mother.
Stage Manager: Diana Chabai-Booker. Producer: Evan Jones. Set Design by Adam M. Coons. Lighting design by Laura Darling. Sound design by Brian Starnes. Props Designer: Jennie Sinnott. Light/Sound Board Operator: Diana Chabai-Booker. Photography by Willie David Short. Playbill Cover Art by Claire Hendricks. Set construction by Adam M. Coons, Peter Kantor, Michael McDermott, and Brian Sheldon. Scenic Painting by MichaelMcDermott.
“The Writer and the Writer’s Brother” film credits: Director: Ellen Cribbs. Editor: John Cribbs. Cinematographer: Michael McDermott. Sound Design: Brian Starnes.
Performance dates are Friday – Sunday, February 14-16, 21-23, and 28-Mar 2, 2025. Friday and Saturday curtains are at 7:30 pm, and Sundays are matinees only at 3 pm. Tickets are $18, or $10 for students. Runs approximately 2 hours 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Contains strong language and violent subject matter. Tickets are available online. Visit https://www.albanycivictheater.org/ for more information.