Theatre Review: Metamophosis - Hammersmith Lyric
- Posted on October 5, 2006 3:57 PM
- 0 comments
You may or may not know the Kafka short story behind this show but basically a man wakes up and discovers he's a fly. It is a simple as that. The play explores the reaction of his well to do family and shows them locking him in a room and wishing he wasn't there.
The production makes use of an amazing set. Downstairs is a simple house but upstairs the bedroom where the unfortunate fly-man (Gregor) wakes up is flipped 90 degrees so the audience looks down on him from above. This means Gregor has to perform as if he were lying down. In reality he is using some pretty impressive strength and climbing skills.
No mention is made throughout the show of what Gregor's disfigurement is. I found myself relating him to someone who was disabled or perhaps someone who is racially abused. I think that was why I liked it so much - you can see a lot of society's problems in the way Gregor is treated by his family (they really just want to get rid of him).
The show also features music from Nick Cave (typically miserable but good). If that doesn't convince you there's acrobatics, climbing, confetti and rain on the stage.
I'm pretty sure this show might well make it to a larger theatre in due course and whilst I enjoyed it I got a bit annoyed with how it was camped up at points. All in all 3 out of 5.
The Thai meal and cold lager after the show got 5 out of 5 though!
by George Ornbo
Tags
england, Hammersmith Lyric, london, Metamophosis, nick cave, theatre, Theatre Review, uk
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