Sea Wall / A Life

By: Simon Stephens, Nick Payne

Narrated by: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Sturridge

Length: 1 hr and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

Meet Alex, a photographer on a holiday with his family in the south of France. Meet Abe, a music producer with a baby on the way. Two men - both fathers, husbands, and sons - take us on a journey you will never forget. The finest actors of their generation, Academy Award® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Sunday in the Park with George) and Tony Award nominee Tom Sturridge (1984), had audiences roaring to their feet during the sold-out Broadway engagement. Now Sea Wall / A Life, a dramatic exploration of transformative love and devastating loss, comes to Audible.

©2020 Simon Stephens and Nick Payne (P)2020 AO Media, LLC.

Incredible. Sea Wall fell short

I watched this in theatre twice and I was blown away by both monologues. I had saved the Audible release date in my calendar and listened to it the same day. Jake Gyllenhaal delivered A Life with the same extraordinary performance he did on stage, which is incredible because this doesn't include the facial expression and body language element. Sea Wall was pretty good but compared to the stage performance, it was shorter and it was missing some parts in the end. I was so confused I had to check the app to make sure it didn't skip forward. Overall, I absolutely love this production and I'm really pleased that it's on Audible. I highly recommend it ♥️

Not this time

I think I've listened to 90% of Audible theater content and for the most part I either enjoy or really love what I read. Not this time. I have a feeling that if you don't know the background of the performance (saw it on stage or read about it extensively), it would be quite hard to follow. Performances were great but I'm not sure I care about the story. maybe I'l give it another try one day.

Too Depressing

I’m sure it’s me, but these characters who are so self involved, they can’t see anything but their own inflated angst just annoy me. I get nothing out of them. And I thought the performance was just a little too forced to get caught up in. Again, I’m sure it’s me and my pedestrian tastes.

Nope

I disliked this "audiobook" intensely. I think maybe some listeners didn't understand that what they were listening to wasn't an audiobook but a recorded version of two one-man plays, which accounts for some of the weirdness. I understand this and in my opinion it doesn't work as an audiobook at all. Granted I don't think I would have enjoyed the live performance anyway, but the style of acting, particularly from Tom Sturridge, translates horribly to the audio recording medium. As soon as the first story began, I didn't think I'd be able to make it all the way through, and honestly I only continued because I was out for a run and had nothing else to listen to. I found Sturridge's performance affected and unpleasant, particularly his vocal fry and the interminably long pauses when his character was supposedly looking for a word he couldn't think of. This would work in a live performance, but in an audio recording it was insufferable. As for the writing, I also found the stream of consciousness style and jumping from one thought to another extremely affected and irritating in both narratives. It surprised me that the two plays were written by different playwrights, as they were both pretentious in precisely the same way.

Amazing

Heart wrenching and heart warming. Overwhelmingly beautiful the way Tom and Jake are able to convey the stories of Alex and Abe, simply through words. I was curious how it would compare to experiencing it on stage, and it really is the next best thing. Even with no audience to play off of, it was filled with emotion. Definitely must listen!

terrible

Narration was absolutely terrible. Received a free copy and immediately understood why it was free. Dont waste your time

Beautiful

Such a wonderfully written and performed script. Emotional and full of sorrow, this was incredibly done. I suggest really listening to get the full grasp. Highly recommend!

So many emotions!

Having lost a loved one recently and had a miscarriage years ago, this brought back so many memories and emotions. Could have really done without the F-word especially in the first half. Not even my most foul-mouthed friends say it that often! But overlooking that, it was very touching.

The human condition

Sea Wall/A Life embodies a poignant sliver of humanity. The death of a child, death of a parent and birth of a child are universal in their specific portrayals . Acted so heart rendingly by Sturridge and Gyllenhaal, the narrators are Everyman who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one. The tenderness is palpable. I cried for the loss of my own parents who died more than 20 years ago. I know it will not be for the last time.

10/10 recommend

i loved it so much, the writing is phenomenal and the repeating phrases and themes were so pleasing to the mind.
the performances by tom sturridge and jake gyllenhaal were incredibly moving, there was so much emotion in their voices which at times made me laugh and at times made me cry which honestly i didnt expect.
the concept of god and life and death and love are beautifully explored and i could vividly see the story play out in my head because it was written and performed so wonderfully.
i'll definitely listen to this a couple of times more because its so beautiful.

❤️

Beautiful and heartbreaking.
Like nothing I've listened to before.
So unique and lovely. Great performances

be ready to be moved

make sure you are not interrupted. it is beautifully performed by both actors and it made me full on cry

Don’t listen to this in public.

At first I was sad that I’d missed the chance to see the play, but after listening to it, I changed my mind. It’s utterly heart wrenching and if I’d been around other people? Nope.

Be prepared to be a mess.

Extraordinary

Both of the stories reach deep inside me and pull out my own memories and life experiences. I love the true honesty of both pieces which include the beautiful aspects of life but also its hardships and the darker moments. Also I cannot ommit the brilliance of both Gyllenhaal and Sturridge who are taking on a rollercoaster of feelings. As I wasn't able to see this being performed live, I'm so happy that this beautiful piece of theatre has been brought here to heal and break hearts.

Better than I thought!

Loved every bit of it...was not what I expected, both stories were very moving - had to take a break between them, the first kind of shook me, needed time to absorb...brilliantly performed.

Perfect

Tom Sturbridge takes you through all of the feelings perfectly. The emotion in his voice is heartbreaking.

An acting masterclass!!

Two of the finest and most powerful performances I've ever heard. Two incredibly moving acting masterclasses. Don't miss them!

Amazing!

I totally loved it! Not an easy listen, but bleeding brilliantly. Well done all involved.

Moving yet funny

Emotional, moving, heartbreaking yet funny. Both pieces are beautifully written and performed. After my first listen, I went straight back and listened again. Bravo

An amazing way to pass an afternoon

A couple of beautiful stories that really make you feel something. If you find yourself needing an emotional release or a way to pass time, this is the way to spend it.

Highly recommend.

(4 stars is a bit picky of me but found the swearing unnecessary in most times its used which took me out of the story a little :P )