Seeing "Skylight" last week was heaven. I've been an enormous fan of the playwright David Hare since I first saw "Teeth and Smiles" in London in 1975 (with Helen Mirren, no less). A few years later, in New York, I was treated to Kate Nelligan's splendid performance in "Plenty" and, more recently, "The Vertical Hour" with Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore. I can't say that I have loved every work by Mr. Hare, the screenplay for "The Hours" being high on my list of belly-flops, but when he sticks to theatre he is in my personal canon along with Rabe, Pinter, Albee and Stoppard.
At first I thought, "Oh, no!" when Bill Nighy entered, all nervous tics and jutting angles, but Carey Mulligan grounded him with her still, solid performance. As they interacted his physical schtick fell away and we were in the moment with this couple who are forever intertwined despite the difference in their ages and political beliefs, beliefs that will never make it possible for the two to actually share a life. It's painful to watch, but oh so exhilarating.
Mulligan's performance as Kyra is magnificent. She continues in the line of fine actresses to perform Hare's work from Helen Mirren to Kate Nelligan to Blaire Brown and Julianne Moore. I had not thought she had it in her based on her performance as Nina in "The Seagull" several years ago which I found wan and dull but she has matured as a stage actress and, based on this performance, can now be considered one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Nighy is excellent once he loses his mannerisms and allows himself to become Tom. Matthew Beard, as his son Edward, in two key scenes with Mulligan, is good as well. But they owe the success of their performances to Mulligan who is fierce, smart and strong.
