Inspired by the book, created on stage and projected on screen, director Katie Mitchell's 90 minute distillation of Dostoevsky's novel ‘The Idiot’ requires as much concentration on the part of the audience as it does from the actors. Deploying techniques similar to those she used in her adaptation of Virginia Woolf's ‘The Waves’ a couple of years back, it proves fascinating and frustrating in equal measure.
The set resembles a recording studio in which the cast scurries about creating small scale effects - the bumpy sway of a train journey, the view through a window streaming with rain - which are simultaneously shown on the large overhead screen where, convincingly, they take on the brooding appearance of an old black and white film. So far, so impressive. But if, like me, you haven't read the original, the disjointed fragments render both the narrative and the characters' motivation hard to follow. As a result, this multimedia hybrid feels more of an atmospheric exercise than the story of a doomed love triangle.
That said, it's still rewarding to see Mitchell pushing the boundaries and to witness the multitasking cast (led by Ben Whishaw's smitten, epileptic Prince Myshkin and Hattie Morahan's intense damaged beauty Nastasya Filippovna) create a mini art house movie before our eyes.
Cottesloe Theatre.
Louise Kingsley
Cottesloe Theatre.
Louise Kingsley
1 comment:
I saw this back in August and completely agree that if you haven't read the book you may find it difficult to follow. However, I decided to do a bit of homework and read it, which in itself has its own challenges but it was worthwhile because my enjoyment of the play was such that I've booked to see it again next month.
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