Interview at Riverside Studios Review
Interview production image. Photo by Helen Murray
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
In this modern era, we are constantly bombarded by information at every turn, on every topic imaginable. In ‘Interview’ at the Riverside Studios, we meet two characters who represent the polar opposites of information gathering in 2025. First, we meet diminishing political journalist Pierre Peters (Robert Sean Leonard), who is forced to do a tabloid-style piece on social media ‘super influencer’ turned actress Katya (Paten Hughes) in her Manhattan, New York apartment. In this eerie cat and mouse interview with confrontations constantly changing, manipulations and twists unfurled throughout, who is the one in control?
The story is closely based on the original 2003 Dutch movie and the 2007 movie adaptation by Steve Buscemi of the same name. This adaptation and direction by Teunkie Van Der Sluijis is a truly magnificent updating of the original plot where Peters needs to interview a super influencer, Katya, with over 20 million followers, who is sick of the malicious and deeply sexual narrative other reporters have imposed on her and now seeks to control and own her narrative. Although Peters is supposedly in charge of the interview and seeks to dominate Katya through his knowledge of politics and exaggerated experience, it becomes very clear that it is Katya in control and who interviews and unravels Peters throughout.
The writing is excellent with plenty of snark, wit and deeply profound moments at odd intervals, which will keep the audience either hooked or repulsed throughout. Freud would have an absolute field day at the strange power dynamics twisting throughout, especially an odd father-daughter dance halfway through, which was highly sexually charged before the characters kissed passionately. An intentionally creepy and deeply unsettling moment that deeply underscores the toxic, blurred boundaries between them. This show’s themes of information control, manipulation and adaptation of public image and use of different forms of media to gain power and wealth were excellently used. This show also lightly touches on a range of serious topics from the Me Too movement, war crimes in Ukraine and other serious issues such as eating disorders, misogyny and drug use, but is not even-handed in its handling of these dark materials. I would strongly suggest checking the content warnings before seeing this show if you are a sensitive soul, as some of the discussions get rather dark and disturbing.
In a two-person play, there is very little room to hide or relax in front of an audience. In Interview the dual acting of Robert Sean Leonard and Paten Hughes is absolutely superb. Their chemistry sizzles together as they gleefully find every layer of these deliciously vile characters. The audience ranges from mildly repulsed to absolutely horrified at the depths these characters sink to in their prejudices, manipulations and confrontations in a grapple for power over the course of the evening. I was especially impressed by Hughes’ mirroring and effortless manipulation of Leonard’s character so that you are never sure what level of truth or carefully curated personality is portrayed at all times, to the extent her character is a vicious grandmaster in victory. Leonard is excellent in portraying subtle nuance and gravitas to his character, even as the rotten core and malignant bitterness of his choices has clearly corroded him from the inside.
The set by Derek Mclane is a fabulously detailed apartment with working faucets and myriad details which make it seem a perfectly curated Instagram set. The lighting by Jackie Shemesh and video design by IDONTLOVEYOUANYMORE are excellent at showcasing the different elements of social media, traditional news and the characters’ electronic devices on the big screen in exquisite and layered detail.
The pace is the same length of the movie at ninety minutes without an interval, and feels much the same as if going to the cinema to see this tale unfold. For the most part, the pacing is swift and brutal with fantastic one-liners; however, there are times it does meander, and the audience is left wondering why there is no progression in the story. Yet this is also the same pacing style in the original movies, so the story is truly very close to its original source. The constant shift in tone from comedic, sexual, thriller and deeply emotional are deliberately confusing and keep the audience on the edge of our seat as we wonder who has got the upper hand.
This is an excellent adaptation that has fully adapted to the modern era and is poignant in its reflection on world politics, power dynamics between men and women and an insatiable lust for power and control over others’ perceptions. If you enjoy tense thrillers with excellent actors, then this is the perfect show for you.
Interview plays at Riverside Studios until 27 September
★★★★★
