Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber Star in a Pair of Psychosexual Slugfests
Briefly

The article explores how playwright August Strindberg's 19th-century principles of naturalism and intimacy in theater are being reincarnated by contemporary collaborators Hugh Jackman, Sonia Friedman, and Ian Rickson through their new company, TOGETHER. Their productions, performed at the Minetta Lane Theatre, include Strindberg's "Creditors" and Hannah Moscovitch's "Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes," which is informed by Strindberg's ethos. Staged with minimalistic sets, the performances highlight the effectiveness of small casts and simpler aesthetics to draw audiences into intense psychological narratives, echoing Strindberg's call for a shift away from grand theatrical conventions.
The new wine has burst the old bottles,” Strindberg claimed, arguing that outdated conventions in theater are detrimental to modern, naturalistic plays that need intimacy to connect with audiences.
Rickson stages both plays with elegant restraint, presenting them in front of a bare brick wall, showcasing a less-is-more philosophy that echoes Strindberg's revolutionary ideas.
Read at The New Yorker
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