Susan Granger’s review of “The Lifespan of a Fact” (Studio 54)
As a journalist, I found this world premiere production of a play by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrel and Gordon Farrell to be one of the most provocative and challenging of the season.
Here’s the set-up: an eagerly conscientious literary magazine employee Jim Fingal (Daniel Radcliffe) is summoned to the office of his boss, Emily Penrose (Cherry Jones), and assigned to fact-check an exceedingly important essay by John D’Agata (Bobby Cannavale) – and they’re on a tight print deadline.
The lengthy essay relates the suicide of teenage Levi Presley in Las Vegas, exploring the wider culture of suicide in that Sin City.
Ambitious, just-out-of-Harvard Fingal soon discovers that egotistical D’Agata doesn’t let incontestable particulars get in the way of a good story so – after trying in vain to phone and e-mail elusive D’Agata – he travels over the weekend from Manhattan to the Nevada desert for a face-to-face confrontation with the evasive author.
Known for taking literary liberties, pompous D’Agata writes that there 34 strip clubs in Las Vegas; diligent Fingal finds there are actually only 31. Facts are facts, he insists, demanding truth. To which, D’Agata arrogantly counters, “The rhythm of ‘34’ works better than the rhythm of ’31,’ so I changed it.”
But that’s just the first of a deluge of questions that fast-talking Fingal has for the antagonistic essayist. Eventually, exasperated Emily Penrose is summoned to facilitate and mediate.
Essentially, the author insists that total accuracy in names, dates and incidents is less important than the beauty and flow of the language, a concept that dates back from Cicero and Herodotus and up to Didion and Sontag: “I’m not interested in accuracy; I’m interested in truth.”
The meticulous fact-checker asserts that incorrect specifics not only get the way of the story but make its publication open to lawsuits.
Cleverly adapted from the 2012 Essay Book by John D’Agata and Him Fingal, it’s vigorously directed by Leigh Silverman whose efficient production team includes set designer Mimi Lien. Costumer Linda Cho, lighting designer Jennifer Schriever, music/sound designer Palmer Heffernan, and production designer Lucy Mackinnon.
Daniel Radcliffe’s compelling performance propels the drama, demonstrating not only his astonishing versatility but acute comic timing. He’s ably matched by menacing Bobby Cannavale and authoritative Cherry Jones.
“The Lifespan of a Fact” is tantalizing, exciting theater!