Reviewed
by Judy Richter
"A Number" is not only the title of Caryl Churchill's 2002 play, it's also the opening line in the one-act drama being staged by American Conservatory Theater. Tautly staged by Anna D. Shapiro and clocking in at slightly under an hour, "A Number" focuses on an older man, now a widower, Salter (Bill Smitrovich), who was displeased with his young son, so sent him off to some kind of care after having him cloned for a more satisfactory son. The latter son, now a young man, Bernard (Josh Charles), has just discovered that there are other clones, "a number," he says.
In
the next scene, the original son, also named Bernard and also played by
Charles, shows up and confronts Salter about the past. Unlike the other, more
polished Bernard, this one is belligerent, angry. Before the play ends, yet
another clone, Michael (also Charles), shows up, but he's quite content with
his life.
The
story emerges in a disjointed fashion, forcing the audience to listen
carefully, especially since Salter tends to change his story from time to time.
Moreover, some dialogue overlaps, forcing even harder listening. The issue
seems to be not so much the dangers of human cloning as it is the parental
impulse and the strong influence of nurture rather than nature. No matter, for
it's hard for the audience to care about any of the characters.
One
of the more intriguing aspects of this production is the set by David Korins.
It's Salter's office, for he's a scientist, perhaps a professor. However, it's
elevated and enclosed on all four sides by a black box whose edges angle in
toward the set. This distancing perspective is akin to a giant movie, TV or --
more likely -- computer screen. Between scenes, lights flash behind scrims on
the sides (design by Russell H. Champa), and synthesized sounds (design by Rob
Milburn and Michael
Bodeen) are
heard. Costumes are by Callie Floor.
Churchill
has always been known as a playwright who eschews conventional forms. Certainly
she does that here, and not entirely successfully despite the first-rate designs,
direction and cast.
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