It is rare in today’s theatrical climate that the downright-crazy dreams of a maverick writer can make any London stage at all, let alone a space in the highly sought after Young Vic. Yet this show has defied logic to go one step further and prove to be a HUGE success.
The Prompt loves intimate shows in studio theatres (you may have seen his review of Operation Greenfield at the Soho Theatre), and the space at the Young Vic is excellent; perfect for a one- man (or woman) fifty-two minutes of calculated madness with undertones of existentialist dogma and overtones of extreme maniacal comedy, phew!
Most striking is Kathryn Hunter’s incredible movement within her character. All students of Britain’s drama academies (that The Prompt has met at least) seem to hold a certain fascination with pretending to be apes: animal study their favourite classes by a country mile.... And it thus seems that former ‘Fragments’ actress Hunter has landed a dream role, but oh! How so very ape-like she is...
Flailing limbs, arched spine, conspicuous gait; the monkey creeps up the aisle through the audience with an intense stare fixed on the rear wall, stops, retreats stage-wards, pausing only to ruffle an audience member’s hair, and produces... a banana.
This is a pattern repeated throughout the show: dark, thought provoking scenes and dialogue cast in a surreal shadow are suddenly broken-in-two by a single moment of inspired comedy- allowing the audience a moment to catch their breath before plunging headfirst again into this compelling story of a single ape’s hopeless struggle for freedom within a falsely perceived ‘luxury captivity’.
The Prompt would thoroughly recommend this show, though its run is coming to an end, and is hugely looking forward to the exciting range of performances coming to the Young Vic over the next year-or-so (Patrick Stewart playing Shakespeare!!!!!!). A triumph.
***** (5 stars issued by Mr T. Prompt)
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