REVIEW: Metamorphosis
- Posted on January 23, 2008 5:35 PM
- 0 comments
Metamorphosis
Lyric Hammersmith
21 January 2008
Review by Adam Walker
Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, currently showing for a very limited run at Lyric Hammersmith prior to an international tour, has to be one of the most bizarre yet compelling pieces of physical theatre showing in London today.
Based on the best-selling book from 1912, and adapted and directed by Lyric Creative Director, David Farr and Gisli Orn Gardarsson, it is on the surface a distinctly unrealistic story to get your head around; but it is the fascist undertones of rejection and persecution that haunt this play and ultimately give it its moral purpose.
Gregor, a travelling salesman, wakes up one morning to discover he has inexplicably transformed into a monstrous beetle. Downstairs, his loving and loyal family continue their unremarkable routine, unaware of the horrors awaiting above them and moving around the house like perfect Prussian dolls, echoing the behaviour of people in the rise of the Nazis era. In time to the eerie chords of music, provided by the geniuses of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, the scene is perfectly set for the emergence of Gregor’s metamorphosis and the reaction from his horrified family, proving that it’s not only the person that changes, but the people around them too.
Borkur Jonsson's inspired gravity-defying, split level set design creates the ideal visualisation of the split within the family. Above the stairs lurks Gregor, where his room is seen from the point-of-view of an insect; everything is tilted 90 degrees, so we, the audience, look down on it. With the family room below set in the traditional staging, this allows us to witness Gregor’s daring aerial action with true exasperation.
The climax of the play is both beautiful yet poignant. Catch this bug before it flies away.
Have you seen Metamorphosis? Did the experience live up to the hype? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Related links:
Metamorphosis tickets on Seatwave.
Lyric Hammermith's official site.
Metamorphosis site.
Tags
Metamorphosis, review, theatre
Post a comment
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.seatwaveblogs.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2579
