Resuscitate Theatre take the seminal Kafka story, which acts as a many-legged metaphor for the sudden realisation that one’s life has totally changed, and makes it explicit as a gender-swapped Gregor wakes up to find herself suddenly transformed into an old woman. The company are very astute to pick up on the psychological similarities between the two types of physical incapacity. However, the decision to remove the metaphor that made the Kafka story so captivating adds little to the original tale. Nevertheless, the premise was well-executed and the new context gives the socio-political problem of the aging population and the attitude to respite care, and there is a certain uncanny thrill to be got when lines from the original text still ring true in their displaced context.
Of course, in a production that boasts a reliance upon on the media of puppetry, film and movement, the text is made secondary and for the most part the visual elements of the play are thoughtful and committed. The inclusion of puppets as an integral part of the performance was more than gratuitous, providing a doubling effect between Greta and her old woman self, solidified in a puppet. The puppetry seemed to have skipped ahead of itself, not quite mastering the basics of holding props yet very astutely conveyed through minute movements tiny tremors of emotion, mannerism and mood. While the movement of the non-wooden members of this production was strong, the production was let down by figuratively wooden acting from the supporting cast, delivered to the stage by video link. Whether their performances were pre-recorded or not, their presence in the space was negligible, compromising some of the beautiful work that was taking place on stage.
Metamorphosis is a production that relies heavily upon all the tricks and gadgets of the theatre to pull on the heartstrings of its audience with a versatile and dedicated performance from its leading actress. A pleasant viewing experience with some moving moments, it’s a well put together production that’s worth a look.
