Analyzing the Adaptation of "Everyman"

Last week, we saw the final play that we'd be seeing at the National Theatre: Carol Ann Duffy's adaptation of "Everyman," a medieval morality play by an unknown playwright. This play is another one that we read prior to our journey to London, and one that I considered to be one of the more interesting of the collection of plays we read. The play focuses on a man who is supposed to be a representative of the common human being, and one who has lived a life full of sin and must atone for them in a genuine manner. Carol Ann Duffy's adaptation of this play is much more modernized than the original medieval play; allowing for contemporary audiences to connect with it in ways that they possible couldn't have with the original text. She changes much of the language to fit modern times, as well as the setting and actions the characters take. There are selfies, drug usage, and homelessness abound in this version, and it all combines to create a devastatingly effective play about morals and the meaning of life. The main character, played by brilliant actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, learns the error of his reckless lifestyle as he encounters many characters meant to represent certain morals and life-lessons, such as four very fancy characters meant to represent greed, who then shun the main character when he fails to conform to their money hungry ways. A particularly interesting and heartfelt scene was one in which Everyman encounters his childhood-self riding his favorite scooter that he got for Christmas. He realizes how innocent he used to be, and how selfish he's become as an adult. This is one of many scenes in the modern adaptation that weren't in the original text, yet still gets the main moral of the story across, and in an arguably much more effective manner. Text aside, the production was directed and performed fantastically by everyone involved, and the production was one of the most impressive and captivating I've seen, and I was genuinely surprised and impressed with it. What could've easily been a rather dull, old-fashioned period play was transformed into an exciting and engrossing production that easily deserves the high praise it has received from critics as well as myself.

photo credit: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2015/apr/27/chiwetel-ejiofor-everyman-national-theatre-rufus-norris-in-pictures