An intimate and witty interrogation of identity, forgiveness and what names mean.
‘The Value of Names’ tells the gripping story of former actor Benny (Jeremy Kareken) who has to confront the man who ended his career, Leo (Tim Hardy) as his daughter Norma (Katherine Lyle), also an actor, is met with the choice about whether to work under the creative direction of her father’s nemesis.
The play is thoughtful, witty and poignant, interrogating the role that names play in defining our humanity. It looks at themes of erasure and identity as we watch complex characters grapple with this central conflict. As Norma contemplates how changing her last name makes her less aligned with her famous father, Benny grapples with the emotional ramifications of being blacklisted, and Leo laments what it means to be forgotten.
Jeffery Sweet’s script shows razor sharp observational detail, with close attention paid to the inherent drama within frayed interpersonal character dynamics. The characters are well written, flawed and defiant, and the play is full of quiet revelations, tender emotional truths and some truly beautiful lines. I do believe that the titular theme, this exploration of the value of names, could have presented itself more potently in the drama, however, as at times it felt tenuous.
The theatre space and set are fittingly intimate, often quiet and devoid of anything but the actors talking – this is a simplicity that lends itself well to helping its award-winning cast shine. Hardy especially portrays Leo with gravitas and maturity and delivers his lines with emotional depth. His confrontational exchange with Benny is the highlight of the play, with Hardy’s quiet confidence and self assuredness a great counter to Kareken, who embodied his character’s deflection and bitter wit convincingly. We become increasingly invested as the play peels away the tender scabs of the past to reveal some striking moral questions.
Lyle’s performance is commendable, with excellent comedic timing, but also feels as if she is not quite settled into her character. This could be because she is absent for much of the play, and gives lines of unnecessary exposition, which is where the script could have used some pruning. The play uses delightful tricks to make the most of the small space, but at times it felt static, as the actors performed dialogue back and forth often without moving.
Despite these slight lapses, ‘The Value of Names’ presents a very human story. Two people explore a dynamic that will never be the same, relevant and important moral questions are asked and it is subtle in the way it interrogates questions about identity, art, and how these things affect the relationships around us. The play ultimately provides a compelling night out at the theatre.