Esteemed actor Edward (Nicholas Nickleby) Petherbridge uses the story of Symeon Stylites, the 5th century monk who lived on a pillar for thirty-six years, as a framework for an existential inquiry into imagination, belief, doubt, miracles and why one would live 'as I live.'
Employing his mellifluous voice to rococo expressivity, Petherbridge mined his script for every ounce of the refined, mordant wit that he wrote into it. Though Petherbridge refers to Symeon's 'gargantuan presumptuousness,' Pillar Talk, along with its curtain-raiser Slapdash, celebrates humanity's 'let's pretend' ability, which is really what the entire Fringe is all about.
and from the Goodreads website we find....
The one man show itself has a contemporary and wry ring to it and so seems very modern despite its being set in the fifth century A.D.
Petherbridge makes clever observations on the pedestal of fame and the purpose of acting. And through it all, a light touch of physical and verbal comedy and a profound sense of addressing important questions, too.
I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading a well written play. How much more would I have enjoyed an audio of the performance! It would be enough if Edward Petherbridge was simply a celebrated actor, but he also has been by turns a director, artist, author and audiographer.
I enjoyed reading this play more than once as proof of his inspired and gifted mind and am looking forward to his next endeavor.
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