Bad, bad Belvoir

When a piece of theatre leaves its audience feeling little but sympathy for its performers, the cause is lost.

Every Breath is the first play written by Benedict Andrews to receive a main stage production. A number of “how” and “why” questions arise from the decision to program a play by a novice playwright in Belvoir’s subscription season.

In it we learn that a wealthy, artistic family has been exposed to some kind of threat. A security firm has been hired, and for six night a week, armed guard Chris patrols the grounds.

“Don’t you get lonely out here?” coos the lady of the house, Lydia, in an opening exchange echoing a porn flick “pool guy” set up. “I’d get lonely. Out here with my thoughts. All that time to fill.”

Lydia invites Chris in for dinner with the family. “C’mon,” she says. “We won’t bite.”      More Read