In a delightful new adaptation of Ali Smith’s novel Autumn, director Harry McDonald brings the kaleidoscopic tale to life on stage at London’s intimate Park Theatre. With humor and charm, the play invites audiences to go for a walk with the endlessly curious Daniel Gluck, an old man who sees words as growing things and the world as something to be read.
Gary Lilburn sparkles as the cheeky storyteller Daniel, forming the beating heart of this patchwork play that seeks kindness and care in an often apathetic world. Through jumbled flashbacks, we witness the blossoming friendship between young Elisabeth, played with forthright wonder by Rebecca Banatvala, and her quirky elderly neighbor.
As they wander and wonder together, Daniel cracks open the world for Elisabeth, turning over truths to reveal new perspectives, like shining a light through a diamond. Director Charlotte Vickers imbues the production with both humor and poignancy, deftly navigating the story’s myriad ideas and themes.
A Patchwork of Stories and Time
Smith’s original novel, the first in a seasonal quartet, aimed to capture the rapidly changing world as quickly as the publishing industry would allow. In McDonald’s adaptation, Brexit buzzes in the background, with Nancy Crane delivering a comically smug performance as a post office worker rigidly enforcing new passport rules.
While the play adeptly transposes the novel’s attention to stories and their power, it occasionally struggles to do the same with its exploration of art. The messy dreamscapes of 1960s pop artist Pauline Boty sometimes threaten to unmoor the action, leaving the audience grasping for connection.
Yet there are moments of illumination, where the novel’s deep intrigue with time and our experience of it feels perfectly suited to the ephemeral nature of theatre. Each night, the play disappears, only to be reborn anew the following evening—a fitting echo of the book’s kaleidoscopic musings on the nature of time itself.
Humor, Charm, and the Search for Connection
Despite occasionally wavering under the weight of its myriad ideas, Autumn remains a treat to witness on stage. McDonald’s adaptation pulses with humor and heart, inviting us to embrace curiosity and forge connections in an increasingly disconnected world.
“Words, here, are not given the same kaleidoscopic possibility as in Smith’s novel, where such pleasure is found in the way they partner and play on the page. Yet there are moments of illumination, where the novel, so deeply intrigued by time and how we all experience it, feels perfectly suited to an artform that disappears each night, to be seen anew the next.”
– According to a close source
As Elisabeth and Daniel’s friendship blossoms, the play invites us to consider the transformative power of curiosity and genuine connection. In a world increasingly marked by apathy and division, Autumn serves as a gentle reminder of the beauty and meaning we might discover if only we take the time to wonder and wander together.
Final Thoughts
While not without its flaws, this intimate, kaleidoscopic adaptation of Ali Smith’s Autumn offers a heartening and humorous exploration of the stories we tell and the connections we forge. With sparkling performances and moments of genuine insight, the play invites us to embrace curiosity and find kindness in an often indifferent world.
For those seeking a thought-provoking and charming night at the theatre, Autumn at the Park Theatre is well worth a visit. Just be prepared to wander, wonder, and perhaps even see the world anew through the ever-curious eyes of Daniel Gluck.
Autumn runs at the Park Theatre, London, until 2 November.
