The Lifespan of a Fact is a play written by Jeremy Karaken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell. Jennifer Clement directed the play. It is based on the book of the same name by John D’Gata and Jim Fingal. It is also based on a true story. The Lifespan of a Fact centers on the intricacies of journalism and the importance of revealing the truth.
Fresh-out-of Harvard graduate Jim Fingal earns the opportunity to intern as a fact-checker for a magazine company. Editor-in-chief, Emily Penrose presents Jim’s assignment. His job is to fact-check an essay written by essayist, John D’Gata. The essay centers on the suicide of a teenager named Levi Presley, who jumped from the observation deck of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas in 2002.
From the start of the play, we see a clear personality difference between the two. Jim is more expressive, and Emily is more stoic. Though the play often included discussions of suicide, there were several comedic moments. A comedic highlight for me was when John and Jim argued about how many strip clubs there were in Las Vegas at the time of the suicide. John insisted that there were 34, but Jim found 31. John told him to keep it at 34 because “4 sounded better than 1”.
The actor who stood out to me was Tal Shulman, who played Jim Fingal. His vibrant and witty personality brought light to the play. The set design was minimalistic and non-distracting. The set also included a large projector screen to showcase the essay’s edits and locations.
The Lifespan of a Fact gave audiences an inside look at the realities of working in the journalism industry. As a writer myself, I learned a lot from the story. I recommend the play for critical thinkers and those interested in journalism and media.
Rating: 4/5
Date watched: May 8th, 2024
Location: Studio 16, Vancouver BC
Theatre 604 