I Am The Wind – Location, Tickets, Reviews
59E59 Theaters presents the U.S. premiere of Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse’s I Am The Wind, a meditative drama helmed by Paul Takacs and translated by Olivier Award-winning British playwright Simon Stephens.
The story begins as two men embark on a dangerous voyage on the open sea and turns into an exploration of the resulting psychological crisis they experience. The minimalist setting echoes the simplicity of the play–other than the grey canvas hanging in the background, the only prop used is a long rope that serves as the boat, the anchor, and even food and drinks. The two characters, played by Louis Butelli and Christopher Tierney, have no names but possess opposing personalities: Butelli’s character is nervous yet ready for an adventure, Tierney’s is chill and passive.
Maxamoo
The play sets a bleak and uneasy tone from the first scene with its vast grey backdrop, dim lighting, and eerie, nautical sound effects. The play doesn’t have much in the way of plot, rather it is a contemplative piece focused on the human condition. The dialogue, although conducted in short, simple sentences, is rife with metaphors that invite deciphering.
The confrontation of Butelli’s anxious optimism and Tierney’s relaxed apathy is an apt metaphor for man’s internal struggle for reconciliation. The two actors’ performances are powerful. Their movements and gestures make up for the absence of a more elaborate setting. It is hard to say whether the play’s ending is happy or catastrophic. We will not spoil it but let’s say it is open to interpretation and may leave you depressed or inspired depending on your perspective. I Am The Wind is philosophical and beautiful in its own way and evokes complex emotions that may require time for rumination.
Public opinion
Have you seen I Am The Wind? What did you think? Share your thoughts in a comment below or tweet us at @maxamoo.
Critic reviews
Critics agree that the play is cryptic and open to interpretation. While some of them are enthusiastic of its stylistic minimalism, others are unimpressed and consider the play dreary.
TheaterMania
If you’re not particularly interested in committing an hour to an inarticulate back-and-forth about depression, you might want to skip out.
New York Times
Converse All You Want, but Don’t Expect Connection
Stage and Cinema
The whole production looks more like an early rehearsal than a finished show.
New York Theatre Review
The production values and performances in this work are very good—I Am The Wind has promise, one just has to just look at that first image to see it—but that promise has yet to extend to the rest of the play.
Let’s Talk Off-Broadway
This intense, gripping short play is superbly acted and perfectly produced.
Berkshire On Stage And Screen
Minimalist, existential “I Am the Wind” a satisfying theatrical journey at New York’s 59E59 Theater
TICKETS
$18 (Click here for tickets)
DATES
January 9 – 26, 2014
LOCATION
59E59 Theaters
59 E 59th Street
New York City
[google-map-v3 width=”250″ height=”250″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”left” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”59 E 59th Street, New York{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]
RUNNING TIME
One hour 30 minutes, no intermission
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Jon Fosse
Directed by Paul Takacs
Translated by Simon Stephens
Featuring Louis Butelli, Christopher Tierney