Theatre Review: Blackeyed Theatre with Berkoff's Adaptation of the Trial at the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple
Universally understood to be "a difficult piece" of theatre, Steven Berkoff's adaptation of The Trial by Kafka is by no means easy going.
Appreciation of a performance of this darkly humorous and intense play relies on its individual production. Blackeyed Theatre, launching their tour of The Trial at the Queen's Theatre in Banstaple this week, do Berkoff justice with strong acting performances, visually striking design and dynamic lighting.
Respectable bank clerk Joseph K (Simon Wegrzyn) is arrested. He has no idea why and it seems that no one is able to tell him. The Trial begins with an arrest but the story is not of a trial in the legal sense. To define "trial" as an "experiment", "effort or attempt" or "trouble or grief" fits better with this tale. K journeys through a labyrinth of clues pausing only to smooth his hair or smooch with temptresses along the way.
Director Ella Vale draws out the Berkovian physical comedy in The Trial and with scene changes enhanced by vocal music and actors creating set and scene there are no dead spots. Wegrzyn is appealing as the desperate Joseph K and rubber faced Derek Elwood entertains with his extreme and grotesque characterisation of four separate characters.
There are captivating scenes where the whole company create moving tableaux and soundscapes, becoming a machine of moving human parts. The final scene is a visual and aural feast; the simple set of white frames becomes a vaulted cathedral echoing with eerie Gregorian chant, a fitting place for the sudden and unexpected ending.
The "difficulty" of the piece, for me, lies in the bizarre story and a couple of heavy monologues which did leave me drifting but
I have nothing but praise for Blackeyed Theatre's colourful and energetic production. Good luck with the tour!
Amanda McCormack 25/1/12
MORE THEATRE NEWS ...
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH BLACKEYED THEATRE ...
Appreciation of a performance of this darkly humorous and intense play relies on its individual production. Blackeyed Theatre, launching their tour of The Trial at the Queen's Theatre in Banstaple this week, do Berkoff justice with strong acting performances, visually striking design and dynamic lighting.
Respectable bank clerk Joseph K (Simon Wegrzyn) is arrested. He has no idea why and it seems that no one is able to tell him. The Trial begins with an arrest but the story is not of a trial in the legal sense. To define "trial" as an "experiment", "effort or attempt" or "trouble or grief" fits better with this tale. K journeys through a labyrinth of clues pausing only to smooth his hair or smooch with temptresses along the way.
Director Ella Vale draws out the Berkovian physical comedy in The Trial and with scene changes enhanced by vocal music and actors creating set and scene there are no dead spots. Wegrzyn is appealing as the desperate Joseph K and rubber faced Derek Elwood entertains with his extreme and grotesque characterisation of four separate characters.
There are captivating scenes where the whole company create moving tableaux and soundscapes, becoming a machine of moving human parts. The final scene is a visual and aural feast; the simple set of white frames becomes a vaulted cathedral echoing with eerie Gregorian chant, a fitting place for the sudden and unexpected ending.
The "difficulty" of the piece, for me, lies in the bizarre story and a couple of heavy monologues which did leave me drifting but
I have nothing but praise for Blackeyed Theatre's colourful and energetic production. Good luck with the tour!
Amanda McCormack 25/1/12
MORE THEATRE NEWS ...
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH BLACKEYED THEATRE ...
