Morning Domino Thanks for the link. That is an excellent review and I imagine there are many more to come.

-- Edited by Pearl24 on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 09:34:22 AM

the equally impressive Molony

Four stars!   Wow!

the upcoming review is everything I wanted to say about this play...but far better and more succinctly put than I could ever hope to.

Another excellent reivew, with pics via Time Out London

The Body of an American | Gate Theatre | Time Out London

Thank you for posting the review from The Stage fifi

Here is another 5 star review from Whats On Stage:

The Body of an American (Gate Theatre) | Whats On Stage

"actors William Gaminara and Damien Molony (both superb) share between them around 80 parts - switching roles even in mid-sentence. They present not just myriad characters from countries as diverse Somalia, Afganistan and Northern Canada; but the difficult and fractured personalities of both the writer and photographer, who by their own reckoning are each to at least some degree, "crazy misfits". "

(80 parts, wow! (is that a typo?))

The more reviews I read on The Body of an American the clearer it becomes that this is a unique, incredibly intense and special piece of theatre that requires incredible actors with lots of stamina!

The Metro has given it 4 stars

The Body Of An American is an intense two-hander that repays the viewer’s commitment | The Metro

A Younger Theatre giving great insight with their review:

Review: The Body of an American, The Gate | A Younger Theatre

Agree Lisa, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, about the play and the performances

Even more excitingly, we also have all the Northampton reviews to come yet!

This review from the Telegraph is pretty opaque, but to be honest I don't get far past the picture...

The Body Of An American, Gate Theatre, Review | The Telegraph

Huge thanks to fifi for her wonderful review of 'The Body Of An American' which is now up on the fansite.

‘THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN’ THEATRE REVIEW

by fifi, Damien Molony Forumer

The Gate Theatre, January 2014 (c) Trevor Blackman Photography

‘The Body of an American’, written by Dan O’Brien, directed by James Dacre.

The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill 16 January – 14 February 2014
Royal and Derngate, Northampton 27 February – 8 March 2014

American writer Dan O’Brien’s play, ‘The Body of an American’ made it’s European debut earlier this month at the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill and I was lucky enough to see its 3rd preview performance on 16 January.

The title of the play is inspired by a prizewinning photo of the dead body of an American soldier being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, taken by photojournalist Paul Watson in 1993. Dan O’Brien contacted Paul after he mentioned in an interview that he had heard the voice of the dead American speak to him and the resulting play charts their developing relationship through email conversations, and their eventual meeting in the Arctic.

Simply staged with just 2 actors and 2 chairs in an intimate, cave-like space, watching the play feels almost like an intrusion on personal conversations, thoughts and memories. The succession of images which are projected at each end of the room act like windows on the outside world, in contrast to the introspective space inside the theatre, while the audience is invited to reflect on the personal battles of the mind and how our experiences shape us against a backdrop of war and domesticity.

At times the pace is frenetic, and the dialogue alternates between the performers, even mid sentence – which can be disorientating, but is somehow not confusing; changes in pace and mood, and an occasional injection of humour, prevent it from feeling like a relentless emotional assault.

While this play appears to be about Paul, or war reportage, it is also about Dan, as his quest to understand Paul leads him to confront his own demons. Surrounded by the audience and with only a chair to hide behind, Damien is compelling as the playwright, drawing the audience into his world with a truthful performance worthy of such open, honest writing. The two actors play a plethora of characters between them, flitting effortlessly between voices and changes in tone as the ghosts of memories intertwine with conversation and Damien is equally engaging as, among others, a parody of a South African psychiatrist and the American soldier’s grieving brother. In Paul, William Gaminara shows us a man haunted by his experiences and self-doubt and together they give a beautifully synchronised performance, both verbally and physically.

With outstanding performances and Dan O’Brien’s clever, beautifully written script, the entire production comes together to create an experience which is sometimes uncomfortable, in a piece of theatre which is intense, compelling and will linger in the mind.

The Body Of An American runs until 14 February at The Gate Theatre and is selling out fast. Buy tickets here.

To comment on this review, click here

For more info The Body Of An American and to discuss with other fans, click here

You may also enjoy:

Damien Molony ‘The Body Of An American’ Aftershow Close-ups by Trevor Blackman Photography

More Damien Molony and William Gaminara ‘The Body of an American’ rehearsal photos – and last tickets remaining for the Gate Theatre!

Damien Molony and William Gaminara The Body of an American rehearsal photos

Damien Molony to appear in ‘The Body of an American’

Damien Molony Theatre Credits

Damien Molony Theatre Reviews

I get that impression too fifi, from what I can gather, a second viewing would definitely be a good thing with a play so saturated with meaning and with such intense, layered and frenetic performances.
Of course, some of us would be happy with the one viewing!

Of course, some of us would be happy with the one viewing!

You can say that again!