An American soldier in Iraq kills himself, possibly accidentally, and a year later his twin brother calls on his young widow. They mourn in very different ways and a series of flashbacks and revelations show why they have very different memories and perceptions of the dead man, a chasm they are not willing or able to cross.
Christopher Shinn’s play has a strong emotional core, though it is weakened by trying to force into relevance outside elements, ranging from Eugene O’Neill to the attacks of 9/11. Most don’t resonate as he would wish and draw attention away from the three central characters, the troubled soldier seen in flashback, the widow whose coolness is only gradually illuminated and the self-absorbed gay actor brother.
Playing both men, Andrew Scott strays a little too close to caricature as the actor but captures the soldier’s darkness in a few brief scenes and differentiates between the two successfully enough that you half expect them to appear onstage together. Sian Brooke quietly and convincingly takes us through the woman’s emotional journey, an accomplishment particularly impressive since it is seen out of chronological order. Director James Macdonald deserves credit for guiding the actors to these performances, though his pacing is sometimes too languid and blocking unfocused.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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