REVIEW: Carey Mulligan is haunting in ‘Girls & Boys’
NEW YORK — Carey Mulligan, one of the best actresses of her generation, is turning in a powerhouse performance in the one-woman show Girls & Boys from scribe Dennis Kelly. She offers a haunting, touching and despair-filled portrayal of a woman trying to deal with living life after an unspeakable tragedy.
Audiences would be disappointed if they missed this solo show, which continues at the Minetta Lane Theatre in the West Village through July 22. Audible, the producers of the Royal Court transfer from London, have another hit on their hands after Billy Crudup’s turn early this year in Harry Clarke. The Amazon company has cornered the market on New York solo theater.
Mulligan’s role is an interesting one because the audience spends nearly two hours with her. She documents many areas of her life, including her professional ambitions and younger years of discovery. These early moments are generally positive, and Mulligan is able to capture a few laughs with her clever wordplay.
When the monologue is interrupted by a set change, things begin to change emotionally in Girls & Boys. It becomes clear that there’s a cloud hovering over Mulligan’s character, and with each new recitation, the reality begins to seep in.
Kudos to director Lyndsey Turner for keeping the proceedings engaging, mysterious and never fake. The revelations that emerge are dealt with sincerely and honestly, even though their horror can be almost too much to bear. Buyer beware: This night at the theater demands a lot of from the audience.
It would rob the play of its power to detail too much what happens to this central character. Rest assured, the plot turns quite dark, and death hangs heavy in the air. The fact that the play never becomes un-watchable is a credit to Mulligan, who holds the audience’s hand and brings them through the tragedy. Kelly’s script is equally commendable because he anticipates the revelation with lines of dialogue that are both instructive and artful; Girls & Boys becomes almost meta-theater, an exercise in how this woman is able to convey the gravity of what she has experienced.
Off-Broadway audiences — those who are properly prepared for a wallop — will come to appreciate the time they spend in the company of an excellent actress, an impressive play and a story that shocks and stirs to the core.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Girls & Boys, written by Dennis Kelly and directed by Lyndsey Turner, stars Carey Mulligan. Performances, running through July 22, are at the Minetta Lane Theatre in the West Village. Click here for more information and tickets. Rating: 
