Starring Felicity Huffman, Steffan Cennydd, Simon Startin and Thalía Dudek, this new show is playing at the Park Theatre until 16 March
BY PHOEBE IRIS, IMAGE BY MICHAEL WHARLEY
Isaac returns home from the war in Afghanistan to find his family transformed. In his absence, the balance of power has shifted. His abusive father has suffered a debilitating stroke, leaving his once downtrodden mother to command the household with the help of his freshly out transgender sibling, Max. Will Isaac ever be able to find his place in this new normal?
Originally staged in 2015, Taylor Mac’s HIR (pronounced ‘here’) is equal parts hilarious, absurd and gut-wrenchingly real. The twisted story of a family caught in the crosshairs of change comes to life through the visionary direction of Steven Kunis.
In her UK debut, Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives, Transamerica), commands the stage as matriarch Paige, alongside strong performances from Steffan Cennydd, Simon Startin and Thalía Dudek. Thalía in particular shines as Max, a transgender teenager going by the pronouns ze/hir, who, through hir transition, has exposed Paige to a new way of life.
It’s refreshing to see a mother not only accept her child’s trans identity but celebrate and fully embrace it. Max’s transition is a catalyst for Paige to explore her sense of self.
For Paige, Max’s transition represents the future, freedom, and a way out. As she puts it: “Max saved me.”
However, for Max, the role of educator is burdensome. As a teenager, Max is still figuring out hir own identity, unsure of who ze wants to be. We see hir ideas shifting and developing throughout the play as Paige desperately tries to keep up but, despite her best intentions, inadvertently stifles Max.
Although HIR is a comedy, it is full of deeply shocking and sad moments. Paige’s treatment of her disabled husband, drugging and humiliating him, often spraying him with water like a naughty dog, leaves the audience conflicted. Is Arnold simply getting what he deserves? Does anyone deserve to be treated like this? As Isaac points out: “He was awful, so what? Everything is awful.”
The family home acts as a microcosm to reflect broader ideas of power, gender, identity and what we owe to each other and ourselves. We see the current “culture wars” playing out through the family, old ideas clash with new leaving no clear victor in the end. The play asks the audience whether the only way to true freedom is complete reinvention (if that’s even possible).
HIR is a challenging watch but the bold storytelling and willingness to engage difficult topics with humour and heart make it well worth it. HIR will stay with you long after the curtains close.
Find out more here: parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/hir/about
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