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Q&A
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CULTURE VULTURE
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Deathvariations
Written by Jon Fosse
Translated & Directed by Sarah Cameron Sunde
59E59 Theaters
59 East 59th Street
212-560-9868

Review by Sean Michael O’Donnell

Oslo Elsewhere’s staging of the mysterious deathvariations, now playing in rep with Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm as part of Henrik Ibsen + Jon Fosse: Norway Meets New York at 59E59 Theaters, introduces American audiences to Norway’s pre-eminent contemporary playwright, Jon Fosse. Considered by many to be Ibsen’s heir apparent, Fosse writes with lyrical simplicity. In deathvariations his stark dialogue and deafening pauses combine to create a fascinating and foreboding sense of despair.

Have it Norway: Natalie Payne gives New York a taste of Oslo in Jon Fosse's Deathvariations.

After the mysterious death of their troubled daughter, an estranged older couple (Diane Ciesla and Dick Hughes) look back on their lives and realize the one thing connecting them is now gone. As they reunite to grieve the death of their daughter (Natalia Payne), their mourning leads them to flashback to their past (the couple is played by Deborah Knox and David L. Townshend in a younger incarnation), where they marry, have a child, and, at last, divorce. As their daughter matures, she is visited by a mysterious stranger (Charles Borland), a seemingly kind man who ultimately calls the girl to her death.

The talented cast expertly brings deathvariations to life. Ciesla perfectly captures the heightened style of Fosse’s writing, delivering a nuanced and stylized performance. Deborah Knox is equally compelling as Ciesla’s younger incarnation, bringing a wonderfully natural and sincere tenor to her characterization. Natalia Payne is breathtaking as the fragile daughter, brilliantly embodying her character’s uncertainty and childish abandon. Fosse’s sparse script weaves a complex story of loss and destiny. He uses words cautiously, allowing silence to tell the bulk of his story. Sarah Cameron Sunde’s excellent translation remains faithful to Fosse’s style, evoking a haunting and disturbing quiet throughout. deathvariations lingers long after the lights have come down, leaving its audience with questions unanswered and much to discuss.