Infinite Life by Annie Baker. The Dorfman, the National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 to 13 January 2024. 3***: William Russell.

Infinite Life by Annie Baker. The Dorfman , the National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 to 13 January 2024.

3***: William Russell.

“Funny, sad, interesting piece about living with pain and seeking cures in dubious places.”

Directed by James Macdonald the action of this Atlantic Theatre Company production is set in a fasting clinic somewhere in California where Sofi, played by Christina Kirk, a rather raddled 46 year old, has come to spend 16 days hoping to get a cure for the vaginal pain she suffers from. She meets four women and one man and we meet them in a series of short scenes – Sofi tells us what day it is – as they share their problems, fancy the one man Nelson – a bare chested hunk played by Pete Simpson there, it appears, because he is having prostate problems of some kind – and discuss life. It is funny, sad and beautifully played by the entire cast although just how much one wishes to share Sofi’s world probably depends on whether or not you are a woman. The clinic smacks of the disreputable, the women are a nicely varied collection although what on earth has led Sofi to bring Daniel Deronda with her as the book of choice to pass the time with is anybody’s guess. As Eileen, the oldest “inhabitant”, Mary Louise Burke is magnificent, tiny wizened, suffering from pains that seem to come from nowhere, usually smiling and always interested in her companions. Kirk creates the less than appealing, distinctly tiresome Sofi beautifully. However one reacts to the play, a skilfully crafted piece in which the sexual problems and lives of the characters are recounted in some detail, stories which enhance the understanding of how difficult things can be when what is wrong seems to have no cure and one ends up in places like this, on has to relish the writing. Admiration for it as a play, as a production, and for the performances in plenty then, but it never managed to take me into their world.

Cast

Mary Louise Burke – Eileen.

Mia Katigbak – Yvette.

Ginnie – Kristine Nielsen.

Brenda Pressley – Elaine.

Pete Simpson – Nelson.

Creatives

Director – James Macdonald.

Set design – dots.

Lighting Designer – Isabella Byrd.

Constume design – Asta Bernice Hostetter.

Sound Designer – Bray Poor.