Icarus is Falling
Reviewed by Laura Van Alphen
The vibe of Icarus is Falling is poignant.
This play is compelling from it’s first moments. It opens with a warm scene between Icarus and his father, Dedalus. At first, the dynamic between father and son only hints at the tensions in their relationship. Dedalus gives Icarus the sculpture of a bird for his 19th birthday, a gift that foreshadows the upcoming tragedy.
That night, Icarus meets with Helios, the sun god. Despite the risks of building a relationship between a god and a mortal, their friendship quickly deepens into love.
Icarus is Falling is the winner of the new play contest, and it is easy to see why. Each element of the set and costumes is thoughtfully chosen, and the staging is stunning. The sequence where Dedalus builds the wings for their escape while Icarus and Helios fall more in love must be seen.
But the real impact of the play is in its language. The use of iambic pentameter feels effortless. The characters and their relationships are nuanced, and they clearly change and develop throughout the play. Each character has their own motivations and each one makes choices with far reaching consequences.
At its core, Icarus is Falling captures the importance of storytelling. It is only through stories that one can truly become immortal. This is a must-see production at this year’s Fringe.
Some of the language and violence make this suitable for 13+.
Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)
Warnings: Coarse Language, Violence
Genre: Theatre—Drama
Playwrights
Brianna Russell and Owen Carter
Director
Abigail Sullivan
Cast
Owen Carter, Adrian Pavone and Boro Milošević
