To See or Not to See: The Ruins of Civilization

New to the New York City Center stage is the desolate thriller The Ruins of Civilization. Starring Tim Daly, Rachael Holmes, Roxanna Hope and Orlagh Cassidy, this play is set in a dystopian society and explores the themes of free will, denial and longing. With a plot that leaves you at the edge of your seat and quite a few unexpected twists, this is a play you don’t want to miss.

We are launched into a futuristic society set in England and meet married couple Silver (Daly) and Dolores (Holmes). They discuss a recent trip and we learn that the rest of the world is in turmoil; communities are plagued by tidal waves and poverty while England seems to be immune to the inevitable end. We also learn that it’s illegal to bear a child.

Daly convincingly portrays a patronizing husband who’s working on a novel and Holmes shines as his subservient and palpable wife. The couple seems decently happy together, but it in a robotic and almost uncomfortable way. The audience struggles to pick sides because we’re unsure of what the norms and values are in this society. As act 1 progresses, we get a better sense of what is deemed appropriate and “normal” in this peculiar world. We later meet a masseuse named Mara (Hope) that carries the burden of a dark secret that changes the whole dynamic of the play. In act 2, Silver and Dolores are torn between how to cope with Mara’s secret and we see the characters navigate between their conflicting desires and reasons to live.

What’s so gripping about this play is that it represents familiar struggles in a way that makes us second guess our own feelings and morals. By emphasizing the importance of concepts that seem minuscule to us as a present day society, we are forced to examine the values we depend on to make decisions. The play encourages the questions: “do we really know what’s best for us and the rest of the world? Do we actually have free will when making decisions?” When Dolores must decide between what her husband thinks is right and what she thinks she desires, she makes an unexpected decision that leaves us wondering to what lengths some will go to reach inner peace.

The chemistry between the cast is natural, which makes the show well-paced and awfully realistic. Although we are strangers to this new world, we can learn a thing a two about denial and the pressure to do what’s right. Holmes is remarkable, capturing the audiences instantly with her charming magnetism and dexterity. Although we struggle to be sympathetic with his character, Daly delivers a subtly eerie but always sharp performance of a man who is overshadowed by his need for control. Along with Hope and Cassidy, the cast consists of compelling storytellers with a natural ability to engage audiences.

Final Verdict: Each actor delivers a performance that is nothing short of intoxicating, powerful and resonating.

Your last chance to catch this must-see play is June 5th so purchase your $30 tickets here.

Photo Credit: Manhattan Theatre Club