Scenes From the Big Picture at the National Theatre

The play presents forty scenes almost as forty sketches. Each character undergoes dramatic personal struggles and the characters interact with each other casually, often not knowing the depth of pain within the other sketches or in each others lives.

The playgoer finds himself drawn in to these personal struggles, which are often more humerous and at times more poignant because the characters never know as much as the audience.

The inner tensions within the play are palpable, as characters have "phone conversations" looking at each other, sans phone, as if they are simply talking to each other. Beating scenes become coreographed like dance scenes, all the more terrible for there quiet gracefullness from a distance.

Yet, the most lasting impression I took from the play, were the wise words of one character and a view of the stars as the play ended. I was left feeling that life had a bit more meaning and feeling much more simpathetic for God, who must sometimes find it as difficult to watch humanity as I found it heartwrenching to watch Scenes from the Big Picure.

This play is very deep and moving but will leave more lighthearted playgoers drained.

• T 020 4572 3000
• National Theatre
• continues until 17 May