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Theater Review | 'Freud’s Last Session'

With Faith on the Couch and Freud on the Case

“Freud’s Last Session”: Martin Rayner, left, as Freud and Mark H. Dold as C. S. Lewis in a production at the Marjorie S. Deane Theater.Credit...Kevin Sprague
Freud's Last Session

There’s plenty of fuel in “Freud’s Last Session.” But sometimes there’s a lack of fire. This well-written two-man play, which imagines a meeting between Sigmund Freud and the writer C. S. Lewis, doesn’t shy away from tantalizing topics — God, war, suffering and sex are all smartly debated here. Yet even with such contentious subject matter, the show only rarely feels risky.

“I want to learn why a man of your intellect, one who shared my convictions, could suddenly abandon truth and embrace an insidious lie” like religion, Freud, an adamant atheist, says soon after meeting Lewis, a devout Christian. Lewis eagerly explains his views, leading Freud to voice his own convictions with the same vigor.

This back-and-forth continues throughout the play’s 75 minutes as the two assert theories, concede points and tell jokes. It’s a sharp, lively discourse, and audience members searching for engaging debate will be pleased. Yet those hungry for excitement won’t find a great deal of it here: outside of intellectual disagreements there is no overriding conflict between these gentlemen. And as anyone who has stayed up late talking in a freshman dorm knows, questions about God are open-ended, destined to end in a stalemate.

Still, even without much suspense there is plenty to admire in this production. Mark St. Germain’s script is astute, and the humor is plentiful. Martin Rayner delivers a wise and cranky Freud, a man who, as he nears the end of his life (the story is set three weeks before Freud’s death, in 1939) remains intellectually alive. As Lewis, Mark H. Dold is a tender-hearted convert, one who is zealous without being overbearing. Using small motions — a half smile, a glance around the room — Mr. Dold paints a wonderfully warm portrait of the young writer.

At its core, “Freud’s Last Session,” directed by Tyler Marchant, is a discussion of ideas rather than a true dramatic work. As it unfolds, you may find yourself lamenting the lack of tension. But at the same time, you can’t help but admire all the clever talk.

“Freud’s Last Session” continues at the Marjorie S. Deane Theater, 10 West 64th Street, Manhattan; (866) 811-4111, freudslastsession.com.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section C, Page 9 of the New York edition with the headline: With Faith on the Couch And Freud on the Case. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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