The Son Tickets

The Son is the final part of the trilogy that included ‘The Father’ and ‘The Mother’. What makes Florian Zeller’s play so intriguing is the fact that it is quite ‘ordinary'. The series of events that are to occur are quite apparent, but everyone is powerless to stop it. Zeller’s predictability makes the ending all the more terrifying and his ability to depict the crippling effects of depression is spectacular to witness.

Amanda Abbington and John Light put up a spectacular performance of a recently divorced couple. Their curt exchanges of pleasantries and the subtle agitation underneath their conversation adds to the ever-present tension between them. Abbington is humming with energy, and her character looks as if she is just a sentence away from breaking down completely. Okafor, on the other hand, emanates a sense of warmth and motherly love. The set design is top-notch, and Lizzie Clachan captures the atmosphere very well, especially in the scene where the chic apartment of Pierre and Sofia is strewn with the discarded belonging of a teenage boy. The director, Michael Longhurst, excels at creating a gripping narrative that only very finely differentiates between the normal and the abnormal. Laurie Kynaston exemplifies this with his performance that can be taken as the moodiness of an angsty teen or perhaps something far more alarming. Do not miss this captivating play that illustrates the effects of a broken family.

The Story

Nicolas is a teenager whose parents have recently undergone a divorce. He lives with his mother Anne but is battling a severe case of depression. Following the separation of his mother and father, he spirals out of control, missing school and lying to his family. His mother, who herself is battling depression and anxiety, turns up at the house of her ex-husband, Pierre where he lives with Sofia and their baby son. Anne explains to Pierre that Nicolas has not attended school in over three months and that she is unable to cope up with his behaviour. They decide to move Nicolas to the home of his father, hoping that a change of environment will do him good.

Nicolas’ condition, however, worsens. He becomes more depressive, often engaging in self-mutilation and turns suicidal. Will psychiatric help allow Nicolas to come out of his shell and emerge stronger? What might be the exact cause of his Nicolas' behaviour? Will moving in back with his mother be the key to getting the fresh start that he longs for?

Good for

Fans of Family Dramas | Lovers of Psychological Dramas