On Tuesday 22nd January at 7.30pm, I witnessed one of the most bizarre, depressing, challenging yet captivating performances of my life.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka was adapted and directed by David Farr and Gísli ÖrnGarðarsson, was performed at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith.
Kafka's original novella tells of a Travelling Salesman - Gregor Samsor, whom mystically transforms into a mutated monstrous bug overnight. The lives of his ordinary and mundane family are turned upside down, as in the absence of Gregor's income, they find it hard to support themselves. The do not know how to deal with his condition, and by the end of the play, they decide that he must be exterminated.
I cannot say exactly what I was expecting when I sat down to view this piece, but what developed before me was certainly not it. Firstly the set and staging by Börkur Jónsson was absolutely stunning, incredible, like nothing I have ever seen before. It was a gravity defying piece of staging, which the transformed Gregor could use to his advantage. Hanging off walls and ceilings, metres and metres above the stage floor, swinging down the staircase, and at one point, breaking through the ceiling of the upstairs, into the living room. It was a triumph in staging that made the piece so captivating, you were unable to tear your eyes away.
However, in the midst of this daring aerial physicality, there was the storyline, the brutal, heartbreaking storyline. There is much to be said and discussed about Kafka's work, and what exactly provoked him to write such a piece, but the Nazi, totalitarian overtones were unmistakeable. Yet, some dark comedy was worked into the script and the acting, which helped slightly in lifting the piece from being so unrelentingly tragic. The characters were harsh and ruthless, nothing redeemed a single one of them, which is really quite rare for a performance in this day and age. Generally there is something lighthearted, some happy ending, but with Metamorphosis you could never see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even in the beautiful moment when Gregor hangs himself in his room and then majestically and acrobatically scales down the set on the silk ribbons, you cannot feel happiness or relief, more a sense of emptiness and regret. Then the family move on, they go to the park and enjoy the spring flowers, and although this scene was beautiful and could be seen as inspiring, and turning over a new leaf, the body of Gregor remains centre stage, not letting you forget the people his family became. The ruthless, uncaring, shells of humanity they became. You do not feel that his life has got better through the death, you feel he was bullied into it, but a family that ignored him, near starved him, and refused to attempt to communicate with him.
The score that went along with the action, was another utter triumph; moving, haunting and perfectly timed with the action. Nick Manning truly made this performance, with his choice of soundtrack.
Though quite truthfully and painfully depressing, Metamorphosis sparked debate and conversation in me like no other piece has in a long time. And although the subjects and subtle undertones that can seen throughout are shocking and depressing, it also sparks an academic approach. So although I may not choose to see such a heavy-hearted piece every day of the week, it is certainly enlightened to see such a well put on performance, that drags me away from the prettiness of musicals and the happy endings that most modern theatre seems to culminate in.
Metamorphosis. I'd recommend it. A true triumph (yes, I will use that word just once more).
