The Pillowman

This is not a play that I saw this holiday but one from last year at Duke of York Theatre but forgot to post. It still is pertinent as I’m back in London and Aaron Taylor Johnson is said to be the next James Bond.

“The Pillowman” is a play written by Martin McDonagh, one of my favourite playwrights. It tells the story of a writer named Katurian (Lilly Allen)., who replaced the original lead, Aaron Taylor Johnson,

I was confused as to whether she was supposed to be playing a man or a woman – there is a lot of that going around at the moment. I eventually gathered that she was a man and this did change the dynamic as to whether she was a sister or a brother. It seemed to matter to me, but not recent reviewers.

Also under investigation was his/her mentally-challenged brother, Martin, (Matthew Tennyson). I liked the character Martin, who reminded me of someone I used to know. He has an ever-so-slight innocence of Frank from Some mothers do have them thing going on when he spoke. However when it turned out he was a serial killer, his endearment faded somewhat.

Katurian and Martin are being interrogated about a series of child murders based on violent stories that Katurian has written. It seemed many if her/his stories involved children dying in tragic circumstances.

The interrogation was being conducted by Detective (Steve Pemberton) and his underling (Paul Kaye), who played a good cop/bad cop routine, in a slightly psycho manner.

The play has received mixed reviews, with some praising its dark humor and exploration of themes such as censorship and the power of storytelling, while others criticize its graphic violence and disturbing subject matter.

Positive aspects of the play:

• Humour: Many reviewers have praised the play’s dark humor, which provides a counterbalance to its disturbing subject matter. The Denver Post’s review notes that “McDonagh’s writing is often hilarious, even in the midst of the most gruesome scenes”1.
• Exploration of themes: The play raises important questions about censorship, the power of storytelling, and the relationship between art and violence. The New York Magazine Theater Review notes that “the supreme and only unquestioned good in the play is the preservation of Katurian’s stories from censorship and police destruction”3.
• Strong performances: Many reviewers have praised the performances of the actors in the play. The Broadway World review notes that “Steve Pemberton and Paul Kaye are both excellent as the two cops, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson is outstanding as Katurian”.

Negative aspects of the play:

• Graphic violence: The play contains scenes of graphic violence and torture, which some reviewers have found disturbing. The GradesFixer review notes that “the play is not for the faint-hearted, as it contains some of the most gruesome scenes ever seen on stage”2.
• Disturbing subject matter: The play deals with themes such as child abuse and murder, which some reviewers have found difficult to watch. The ambidexteri review notes that “the play is not for everyone, and some may find it too disturbing to watch”.
• Lack of resolution: Some reviewers have criticized the play for its lack of resolution and ambiguity. The Williams Record review notes that “the play leaves many questions unanswered and many themes unexplored”6.

Overall, “The Pillowman” is a play that explores important themes and raises thought-provoking questions, but its graphic violence and disturbing subject matter may not be suitable for everyone, The play’s dark humor and strong performances have been praised by many reviewers, but its lack of resolution and ambiguity have been criticized by others.

The Pillowman” explores several themes that are central to the play’s plot and characters. These themes include:

• Storytelling and the relationship between truth and fiction: The play examines the power of storytelling and the ways in which fiction can be used to explore difficult truths. Katurian, the protagonist, is a writer who uses his stories to cope with his traumatic childhood and to make sense of the world around him1.
• Bad parenting and the effects of abuse: The play explores the effects of parental abuse on children and the ways in which trauma can shape a person’s life. Katurian and his brother were both abused by their parents, and this abuse has had a profound impact on their lives5.
• The role of the writer: The play raises important questions about the role of the writer in society and the ways in which art can be used to challenge authority and promote social change. Katurian’s stories are seen as a threat by the authorities, who view them as subversive and dangerous6.
• Censorship and the power of the state: The play examines the ways in which the state can use censorship and violence to control the population and suppress dissent. The authorities in the play are willing to use any means necessary to maintain their power, including torture and murder.
• The nature of truth and lies: The play explores the difference between truth and lies and raises questions about the ways in which we construct our own realities. Katurian’s stories blur the line between truth and fiction, and the play suggests that there may be no objective truth3.

Overall, “The Pillowman” is a complex and thought-provoking play that explores a range of themes related to storytelling, trauma, censorship, and the nature of truth. The play’s exploration of these themes is both disturbing and compelling, and it raises important questions about the role of art in society and the ways in which we construct our own realities.

The Pillowman” comments on the role of art in society in several ways:

• Questioning the artist’s role: The play blurs the boundary between fiction and reality to question the artist’s role in society. According to a review in The Harvard Crimson, the play “ultimately blurs the boundary between fiction and reality to question the artist’s role in society”1.
• Exploring the consequences of art: The play allegorizes a key question about the meaning and purpose of art: what are its consequences in the world? A Project MUSE article notes that the play “allegorizes a key question about the meaning and purpose of art: what are its consequences in the world?”2.
• Raising questions about the meaning of art: The play raises questions about the meaning of art and its role in society. A review in The Volante notes that the play “looks at art and raises the question of what art is and the meanings of it, and how it can affect people”3.
• Presenting artistic dualities: The play presents a series of artistic dualities with a certain aim behind them, which goes around the role of art in any society. A ResearchGate article notes that “the playwright, McDonagh, presents a series of artistic dualities with a certain aim behind them; this aim goes around the role of art in any society”4.
• Exploring the art of storytelling: The play explores the art of storytelling and its role in society. A review in The Sofa Spud notes that “the art of storytelling, despite the influence of contemporary culture and social morality, is sometimes made solely for the purpose of storytelling”5.

Overall, “The Pillowman” comments on the role of art in society by raising important questions about the meaning and purpose of art, exploring the consequences of art, and presenting artistic dualities. The play suggests that art can have a powerful impact on society and that the role of the artist is complex and multifaceted.