The Exhibitionist

Paranoia, narcissism, serious illness, supreme pettiness, and a character’s rediscovery of lesbianism constitute the key elements in this British family drama by Mendelson (When We Were Bad). When quasi-famous has-been artist Ray Hanrahan mounts an exhibition of his latest work at his home studio, everything goes wrong; the caterer never arrives, and most of the guests are Ray’s “enemies,” who inwardly deride his poor showing of only four paintings. Ray’s wife, Lucia, is a sculptor whose talent has earned her a place at the Venice Biennial, which makes the unsupportive Ray monumentally envious; he rages on and on, like a character out of a Shakespeare play. Ray has no sympathy or feelings for anyone but himself, and he’s driving everyone away—his three children too, including his eldest, who has always championed him, and the two younger kids, who are beginning to break away. Meanwhile, Lucia is making some big decisions of her own.