In the sad world of factory farming the horrors of animals trapped in cages for the duration of their painful lives is well-documented and visually familiar. Blasphemy turns the situation around. "Trapped in a cage, within a cage, within a cage, surrounded by the dead, three survivors are forced to ponder their circumstances."
Thought-provoking yet disturbing experience.
Further described as ‘a claustrophobic and comedic tragedy’, the play adopts an absurdist approach to abduction and torture through the minds of three characters who from the confines of their entrapment are able to talk to each other. They are unaware of what keeps them there but they know that members of their community disappear for periods of time and that some never return. This who do come back are often physically and mentally damaged for the rest of their miserable lives.
Matthew Bromwich (Alex) is a man of some physical stature and significant frame; he, even more than the other two, is able to display the pain of confinement, the restriction of possible movement and the cramping pain of being unable to stretch out. Irrespective of size of the occupant all cages are the same size. Katie Hamilton (Ratty) and Robyn Lovell (Jamie) are similarly imprisoned and demonstrate the stress generated by such incarceration. Together they are able to speculate about their lot in life, regurgitate home-spun philosophy and waver between hope and desperation.
Director Jonah York has made a valiant effort with this difficult, static piece given that the characters are in their cages for the duration of the performance. It’s a thought-provoking yet disturbing experience to be on the outside looking in.
This play was presented by Threedumb Theatre as part of their Six Plays, One Day event at the Tristan Bates Theatre on 9th February, 2019.
