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Daughter, Summerhall, review

August 26, 2018

I was not the target audience for Adam Lazarus’ Daughter, but maybe this discussion can help someone else. 

Adam Lazarus’ Daughter is one of the most uncomfortable shows I’ve ever seen. At the end (its contents possibly brutally honest, or possibly exaggerated for the sake of causing controversy…it’s unclear), our ignorance to the facts make the audience even more guarded. How does one react to a show where a father discusses liking abusive porn, assaulting a father of his daughter’s friend, encouraging his daughter to attack a boy her age, and just missing being allowed to act like an absolute ass?

Because as unlikable as the character is, would it be better if we told him to be quiet? Does talking about it help? After spending an hour watching Lazarus’ character speak of all the nasty behaviour he engaged in and liked, I cannot say I understand him any better. The show did not allow me to form any connection with the man in question and to an extent, the whole performance actually feels like a therapy for the character. It’s a therapy I have no interest in hearing, but being a young woman blessed with a lovely father, I eventually find myself asking if my reaction matters. I am not the target audience for Daughter and maybe this can help someone else. 

Because Lazarus’ character wants to be a better man, but cannot help missing his own life. Behaving good does not make him happy, nor does having a daughter  – for as much as he says to love her. It is a problematic situation which would definitely be more engaging to a wider audience if the problematic behaviour he outlines was not so excessive and, to many, triggering in itself.

The contrast between who you want to be, who you are, and which version of you makes you the happiest could be a conversation starter – but with Daughter, no new conversation sparked for me. It only made me happy to be born far away from this energy, and feel sorry for the -hopefully – fictional little girl and wife. 

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Edinburgh  / Edinburgh Plays

Žad Novak
Žad Novak is currently studying Comparative Literature and German at the University of Glasgow, with Theatre Studies as her additional subject. When not at university, she volunteers/works as an assistant (to the) director in professional theatres in Zagreb, Glasgow and Berlin. Her passion lies in brining theatre, literature and film from non-English-speaking countries into the spotlight, believing that exposing people to artworks from other places helps battle inequality and xenophobia. She is one of the founders of Glasgow International Student Theatre, a theatre society at University of Glasgow aiming to stage translated plays from around the world. Nevertheless, none of this is to say that she cannot enjoy a good production of Shakespeare. She is deeply, deeply grateful to all the amazing baristas across Edinburgh, the unsung heroes that make her Fringe-Binge possible! When she is not involved in making theatre, she loves to talk about past productions, and complains about missing ‘the theatre life’. Recently, she has found relief in writing reviews. Her family and friends are grateful.

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