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Discombobulated and Me
22 April – 11 May 2008
A review by Tanith Lindon for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Based on the 1920s German film of the same name, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is a expressionistic comedy/horror, adapted for the stage by Discombobulated and Me. Described as ‘a perverse tale of murderous prophecy’, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is based in a quiet German town, abruptly plagued by a series of gruesome, unprovoked murders at the hands of a ‘malevolent architect of terror’. Suspicions turn to the carnival that has come to town, and more specifically to the sinister Dr Caligari and his prophesising somnambulist. One of the first and most famous examples of German Expressionism, the film of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari can be credited with paving the way for the plethora of horror films that followed, and as an early influence on the genre of film noir. The original achieved its place in the film hall of fame most notably for its dramatic set design, as the scenery is shaped by the thoughts of the twisted psyche in which it is remembered. Retaining the exaggerated aesthetics of the film, Amy Rushton’s set focuses on a hanging collection of acutely angled shapes to the left of the stage, from which jagged white lines snake out like shafts of lighting or cracks in an icy lake. As the play progresses, projections locate this area of the stage as a crime scene and the mysterious shapes become violent stabbing instruments, while the white lines become sharp rivers of blood from a heinous and unjust crime! Matching the black and white of the set, the characters have pallid faces sharpened by make-up, with accentuated wrinkles and darkened eye sockets. Here and there are splashes of colour: the scarlet lips of the heroine; the powder blue coat of the circus-master; but these incongruities only further the sinister aspects of the play. Discombobulated and Me’s production is in fact, very funny. Combining freak-show elements of horror with slapstick and clever cross-reference, they will win themselves comparisons to the League of Gentlemen’s dark brand of humour. Worthy carnival characters include an inebriated bear and Siamese twins, whose saucy song celebrates the advantages of taking home a date with four nipples. The writing is sharp, and the actors swap speedily between characters, picking up various musical instruments along the way to create the soundscape for this Theatre of the Bizarre. Caligari himself is a hunchbacked textbook bad’un, with large round-rimmed glasses and a guttural bark that’d make Papa Lazarou soil himself. He is a hilarious caricature while actually being very scary, and in a small space such as the White Bear, you do find yourself squirming under his wide-eyed scrutiny. Only a few days ago I was bemoaning the lack of inventively presented work in my recent outings as a critic, and now here is something to stop my mouth. (…Or not, as the case may be.) This production is dedicatedly inventive, paying loving homage to the film, while converting what was a silent horror flick into a witty and exciting piece of theatre. Vitally, Discombobulated and Me embrace the expressionistic elements to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, employing a broad variety of methods to not just imitate life onstage, but to exaggerate it. For me, part of the beauty of theatre is that it gives you the freedom to link themes and characters, and give a metaphor a physical reality. Realistic representation is only one of the ways to tell a story and it is incredibly refreshing to see the freedom of technique with which this version of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari has been created. The programme for The Cabinet of Dr. Calgari did not match the cast list in the roles played, so unfortunately, I cannot name names. Suffice to say that the performances were strong throughout, and the cast list is as follows: Alex Bothwell, Sophie Brooke, Laura Evelyn, Yolanda Mpele, Donald Newholm, Serge Sumerling, Dan Wheeler, Dan Woods. My sizeable cup of enthusiasm brimmeth over. You will not see this every day; my advice is to catch it while you can. The White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ (Leave a message with the number of tickets you wish to reserve and on which date)
24hr Telephone Booking: 08444 771 000
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