D’Agata Writes ‘Masterpiece’ Essay, Fingal Checks Every Fact

by Barry David Horwitz

“The Lifespan of a Fact” is based on a true story. It took seven years for well-known writer John D’Agata to publish his essay on the high suicide rate in Las Vegas. But with the magic of theater, his arguments with fact checker Jim Fingal take place in one weekend. They later wrote a book about their disagreements and the play at Aurora Theatre, based on their book, sizzles with sharp debate and surprising insights—quite an achievement.

D’Agata wants the slick New York magazine to publish his essay about a teenager who jumps to his death from the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. At that time, Vegas has the highest suicide rate in the country. But someone at the magazine has to check the facts first.

Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell’s brilliant comedy takes up a crucial issue of our time: How long does it take till people decide to accept a repeated lie as the truth? Their play based on debate between writer and checker examines the illusions we prefer to reality.

Superb Elijah Alexander plays John, the powerful writer who knows his own worth. He’s bullying, and dominant, and he shoots galaxies of insults at his young antagonist. He explains, condescendingly, that his essay is NOT subject to mere fact checking; and he arrogantly claims to be going for a “Bigger Truth.”

Top Editor Emily (razor-sharp Carrie Paff) chooses a young intern to fact check the article with a deadline looming. The power imbalance between Emily and her intern (hilarious Hernán Angulo) makes first rate office comedy. Paff’s Emily is quick, smart, and unpredictable. Her elegant gestures signal that Jim better bring her a publishable work—or else!

Director Jessica Holt keeps the comedy moving quickly, emphasizing the generation gap between Emily and Jim, her obsessive young fact checker. Holt directs with meticulous attention to detail and speed.

When Jim shows up unexpectedly at John’s small Las Vegas apartment, the power shifts radically. Talk about generational warfare—they engage in a thrilling battle between the older, idealistic Boomer-type writer and the younger, data-driven Millennial. Their debates are rich with satire and jokes, exploring the “best” way to tell the truth in Jim’s essay.

John’s great speech pits his romantic view of journalism against Jim’s factual research. Jim has many pages of questions and notes for the writer. Their extreme opposition parallels a basic conflict: Do we accept what people say just because it’s what we want to hear? Have we lost our ability to sift through the lies?

The fact checker’s big folders of research expose the trickery and lies in John’s essay about the boy who jumped off the hotel in Las Vegas. Should it be published, or should it be changed from “truthiness” to actual, factual truth?

On a beautiful stage set by Kate Noll, we enter an office with magnificent bookcases. Above, on a screen, we see stunning videoscapes of changing city scenes, from New York to Las Vegas. All the costumes, lighting, and sound are realistic and draw us into the mysteries of writing versus editing a non-fiction story.

Finally, at one crucial moment, the three literary combatants come to a shocking, paralyzed silence while working John’s text. The essay has brought them up to the real event, evoking a dramatic pause. That strategic moment gives us a chance to consider the claims of subjectivity vs. objectivity, idealism and practicality, lies vs. reason.

Moment by moment, this intriguing work brings surprising confrontations and contradictions. I highly recommend an evening with great actors and a stirring script that pierces to the heart of where we are now.

“The Lifespan of a Fact” by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell & Gordon Farrell, based on the book by John D’Agata & Jim Fingal, directed by Jessica Holt, scenic design by Kate Noll, costumes by Jessie Amoroso, lighting by Russell H. Champa, sound & projections by Teddy Hulsker, at Aurora Theatre, Berkeley. Info: auroratheatre.org – to July 21, 2024.

Cast: Elijah Alexander, Hernán Angulo, and Carrie Paff.

Banner photo: Elijah Alexander, Hernán Angulo, and Carrie Paff. Photos by Kevin Berne