Daughter, Summerhall, review

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.