The Starry Messenger

A story of the unrequited desires of an estranged family of three, The Starry Messenger takes audiences on a highly relatable voyage of human emotions. Much of the communication between its characters is conducted through perfectly directed moments of silence. The play does not answer all the deep questions it presents, but this turns out to be the most ideal way to enunciate the message of the play.

Two-time Tony Award-winning actor Matthew Broderick from the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fame returns to stage as the meek and distraught Mark Williams. Elizabeth McGovern portrays Mark’s wife Anne. She was nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe as well. The play is directed by the accomplished Sam Yates who is known for bringing popular stories such as Billy Liar and Glengarry Glen Ross to life at the West End.

The Story

An ordinary man with an ordinary teaching job at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City has always aspired to be an astronomer. His marriage, much like the emptiness of interstellar space that Mark Williams craves to observe, has plunged into a void. Mark’s son locks himself up in the basement with an electric guitar and completely avoids interacting with his father. When everything seems to be turning irreversibly lifeless, a ray of hope emerges for the distraught Mark - he falls in love with one of his students. The story spirals into a beautifully crafted climax that you are sure to remember for months to come.

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Critics Reviews

The Starry Messenger is a classic example of Lonergan's work and, in coming to London, the production gives us the chance to see Lonergan's masterful writing come to life on stage.
– Culture Whisper