Apologia

by Alexi Kaye Campbell

A witty, topical and passionate play about generations, secrets, and the stories we tell about our lives.

Kristin Miller is a firebrand matriarch and eminent art historian. Her birthday gathering should be a cause for celebration, but the recent publication of her memoir has exposed cracks in her family relationships. As the evening progresses, questions arise about the sacrifices she has made and about the price paid by those nearest to her.

Alexi Kaye Campbell's play Apologia was originally produced at the Bush Theatre, London, in 2009. This edition was published alongside the play's revival at the Trafalgar Studios, London, in 2017, directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring Stockard Channing as Kristin.

'raw and very funny... confirms Campbell's standing as a fresh and sensitive voice' - Evening Standard

'Sharp, funny, wise and humane, Alexi Kaye Campbell is a writer to cherish' - Telegraph

Genres: Plays

126 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

The current London revival of Campbell's 2009 play impelled me to read this, although I admired his breakthrough piece, The Pride, very much as well. The play seems a mite dated, which is more a factor of the whirlwind changes wrought in the past 8 years (and largely, the past 8 months), than any inherent deficiency. And if the mixed reviews it's garnered can be trusted, it plays as a bit schematic and 'programmed'; characters often appear as mouthpieces for various polemical opinions, rather than flesh-and-blood people. However, I was enormously entertained reading it - it is quite a witty piece of writing, and I would love to see it performed - although I couldn't help thinking Annette Bening would be the ideal choice to play the central mother figure, rather than Stockard Channing. I also found it fascinating that in the current production the two sons (who are very different) are played by the same actor, since they never share the stage at the same time - what a tour de force that would be for any actor.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading around the London theater scene in preparation for teaching the literature of drama in London in Fall, and this title came up. First performed in 2009, this play is both specific and universal, about ambition and loss, parenting and independence, identity and expectations. I am hoping to take my students to see the play with Stockard Channing in Fall.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING

[Carenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyable and would love to see it performed at some point

[Cara Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's crazy, I wasn't expecting to be so hooked to this but I literally finished it in less than 24 hours. My only complaint is that the way the lines are written can get a bit weird at times when the characters are meant to be talking over each other. Great play though.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

diverting but heavy handed