A Noise Within is known for ambitious classical theater, and its production of “The Chairs” is no exception. While Eugene Ionesco’s complex tragic farce is certainly not theatrical child’s play, ANW’s adaptation, directed by company co-founder Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, brings depth and liveliness to what could be a plodding production.

Alternately droll and morose, pensive and manic, “The Chairs” centers on two characters: the Old Woman (Deborah Strang) and the Old Man (Geoff Elliott). The pair is arranging chairs for invisible guests invited to hear an orator announce the Old Man’s discovery. 

Nothing is ever overt in “The Chairs.” It is implied that the Old Man’s discovery is the meaning of life; there are references to the end of the world; and the unseen guests suggest that the Old Man and Woman are the only people left on earth. But the subtleties of “The Chairs” lend themselves to interpretation, and even the final scene provides no certainties.

As the couple greets the series of invisible visitors, they look back on a 100-year life. The entrance of a Colonel prompts the Old Man to reminisce about his wasted potential, while an old love reminds the pair of long-lost passion. 

Although the hour-and-a-half long production threatens to drag on, Strang and Elliott bring a remarkable intensity and conviction throughout. The two characters have an unyielding bond, even when forced apart by the crowd of invisible spectators. 

Set before a shabby backdrop of peeling wallpaper and saggy chairs, the production elements add focus to the shifting mood. As the couple sits alone before the guests arrive, their solitude and old age is amplified by stark, grey light falling across their faces. Later, the flurry of arriving guests reaches a climax with echoing doorbells, swirling white light and a crescendo of music.

While some theatergoers may not appreciate the complexities of the production, it’s apparent that every aspect of ANW’s “The Chairs” is thoughtful and deliberate, just as Ionesco’s absurdist work should be.

Reach staff reporter Elizabeth Johnson here.