Theater Review: ‘The Lifespan of a Fact’

Written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell, “The Lifespan of a Fact” is a riveting 90 minutes. Leigh Silverman directs with a sharp eye, encouraging her excellent actors to flesh out the roles with natural humor and nuance.

And while the work strives to be even-handed, it’s clear the playwrights are more sympathetic to Jim’s side of the debate. Daniel Radcliffe plays the unrelenting noodge to perfection. And when the two go at it, Bobby Cannavale’s arch sense of entitlement as John makes for a most compelling dynamic. In the middle is Cherry Jones as the exasperated Emily, and she too is terrific.

I can’t exactly say “The Lifespan of a Fact” is a great play, but it is an important one. And as the assault on objectivity escalates throughout the world, I wish it a long and healthy lifespan of its own.