Through a Glass Darkly - Almeida Theatre

Ian McElhinney, Dimitri Leonidas, Ruth Wilson and Justin SalingerPhoto: Simon Annanddown. Max is watching now, waiting to see what his father will do. David stares at Karin for amoment and then goes to help Martin hold her down. Martin administers the sedative and Karinsoftens and calms.David tells Martin to let Karin go – she is not his prisoner. David looks at Max, who runs out of theroom. Karin tells them that her hope inside the wall is lost – they told her she is not worthy, thatshe has failed: the door is now closed to her. Karin turns her head from the crack in the wall andcloses her eyes. Max re-enters with a glass of water. He gives it to David who passes it to Karin.Martin and David lift Karin to her feet: the helicopter is waiting for her at the jetty. Karin leaves,supported by Martin. She does not look at Max. Max follows them out, as David begins to pick upthe pages of Max’s play, strewn over the floor.Plot SummaryMax comes back and faces his father. There is a deep uncertainty between the two of them, andneither quite knows what to say. Max tells his father that something changed whilst he was withKarin – he believes he is losing his mind. David tells him to find something to hold on to – if notGod then love. Max asks whether this will help. David does not know for certain but he copes itwill help Karin. Helping Karin can be something they can do together. Max goes to take his playfrom his father’s hands, but David holds on to it.I’ll have to start again. I’ll have to go back to the beginning andprove myself. However long it takes.KarinScene TwelveResource Pack: Through A Glass Darkly by Ingmar Bergman 14