John by Annie Baker

It is (no doubt intentionally) unclear as to whether the “John” of the title is the ex-husband of the old woman who at one time believed that he inhabited her brain and that of everyone around her, or the mystery man with whom the young woman has had/is having an affair. It strikes me as equally mysterious why the character list gives the names, specific ages, and eyesight conditions as defining features of each. But then, the show is clearly cultivating a air of mystery with some hint of haunting, repeated requests for scary stories, and just general weirdness. I found myself reminded vaguely of The Weir by Conor McPherson, my only recollection of the play being a series of scary stories with no obvious point. In John, so many things are introduced or hinted at, but all I am left wondering is, “Why?” I don't need Charles Dickens to sweep in and tie up every loose end with astonishing coincidences, but I would love an overarching story-line of some sort.