The Father at Pasadena Playhouse

The Father

Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Ave. Pasadena

André was once a tap dancer. He lives with his daughter, Anne, and her husband, Antoine. Or was André an engineer, whose daughter Anne lives in London with her new lover, Pierre? The thing is, he is still wearing his pajamas, and he can't find his watch. He is starting to wonder if he's losing control. Featuring acclaimed actor Alfred Molina (Frida, An Education, Enchanted April) in a tour-de-force role that will captivate audiences and leave you breathless.

Thru - Mar 1, 2020

Wednesdays: 8:00pm

Thursdays: 8:00pm

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Price: $47-$75

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 626-356-7529

www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

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The Father Reviews

Average Rating based on 8 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Los Angeles Times - Recommended

"...The play, however, is more adventurous in its format than it is expansive in its vision. The subject matter has a personal resonance for many of us, and I found myself gripped by the accurate depiction of the dementia dilemma."

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- Charles McNulty

Broadway World - Somewhat Recommended

"...With a 90-minute running time and no intermission THE FATHER hurtles along with an agility and fragmentation that is reminiscent of dreams. Director Jessica Kubzansky does a good job of keeping the pacing brisk, but there are some sitcom-ish moments that could have been massaged into more relatable humor. The scenic design by David Meyer is outstanding, with living and dining areas and a short hall leading to other rooms. It's a beautiful apartment, and the set slowly and subtly comes apart, as André's mind and memory fracture."

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- Harker Jones

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...The Father is as disorienting as it is sorrowful. It pays tribute to the countless souls whose lives have been destroyed - both directly and indirectly - by dementia and Alzheimer's. It honors those who show up day after day, even minute after minute, to reintroduce themselves with a smile - even when it kills them. I haven't been this viscerally affected by a play in a long time. It shows us that even with the loving reassurance from another, we're ultimately on our own. That even with the loving reassurance from another, we're ultimately on our own. That even loving reassure we're. On. Ultimately. On our. Scared. Own."

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- Marc Wheeler

Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended

"...Dementia as seen from the inside out. Harrowing, disorienting, and mesmerizing. Unexpectedly, refreshingly funny. Smash runs in Paris, London, and New York. Florian Zeller's world-acclaimed The Father has arrived at the Pasadena Playhouse with an absolutely superb Alfred Molina in the title role."

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- Steven Stanley

Hollywood Progressive - Somewhat Recommended

"...Zeller may have the gift of prophecy as today's America seems to be suffering from people dominating the public sphere who appear to be experiencing mental diseases and a complete, total lack of self awareness and self delusion. Molina takes us into that realm - but thankfully, for only 90 minutes or so. Be that as it may, as rough sledding as this challenging subject is, the main reason to see it is to get a chance to witness one of the greats, Alfred Molina, tread on the boards in the flesh, up close - if, perhaps, a bit too close and personal for comfort."

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- Ed Rampell

Stage Raw - Highly Recommended

"...The Father explores the complexities of a shifting father-daughter dynamic as Anne assumes responsibility for Andre when he can no longer care for himself. Credited as a tragic farce, The Father is ultimately far more tragic than farcical. Andre, once a man larger than life, is broken, confused and alone; it's almost too painful to bear."

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- Dana Martin

Haines His Way - Recommended

"...Zeller and Hampton have crafted a wonderful jigsaw puzzle of a play and director Jessica Kubansky has skillfully fitted all the intricate pieces together with superb craftsmanship. Her cast, headed by Molina and Cremin and including Robert Mammana, Michael Manuel, Lisa Renee Pits and Pia Shah delicately create the various permutations of their characters. David Meyer's subtly devolving scenic design aids immensely in creating the sense of distortion caused by memory loss. John Zalewski's brittle and archaic sound design punctuates the many scene changes, perfectly evokeing that dislocation between reality and memory. See The Father; you won't soon forget the experience."

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- Rob Stevens

On Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...The concept of seeing the world through the eyes of someone with late-stage dementia is frightening and deeply sad, and the visceral approach this production takes is truly startling. Yes, it is off-putting to watch scenes that are sometimes out of order or repeated with only small differences, but this forced uncomfortability puts the audience in Andre's shoes, whether they like it or not. Any sense of unease felt as a spectator pales in comparison to the everyday reality of someone battling this disease. Despite the infusion of smart, dry humor throughout by Zeller and translator Christopher Hampton, the overall mood is overwhelmingly somber. Thanks to smart direction and Molina's affecting lead performance, this play will surely stick with audiences long after leaving the theater, even as memories begin to fade."

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- Erin Conley