 | | Woyzeck - Tobacco Factory | |
| | Review by Paul Stevens | |
|  | | THIS STORY LAST UPDATED:
09 May 2003 1119 BST
:: Woyzeck by George Buchner
:: Tobacco Factory
:: May 7th - 24th 2003
| | Woyzeck - the true story of a close shave | |  | |
| | :: This story | | > Internet links
Tobacco Factory
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| | The Tobacco Factory is to be congratulated for this engaging and thought-provoking revival of Georg Buchner's rarely-performed work from the early 19th century.
Buchner, now acknowledged as one of the most influential of Germany's playwrights, died in 1837 at just 23, before completing the work.
Its first performance was in 1913, but it has been widely seen as the first "modern" drama.
Watching this splendid production one can well see why.
The play's scenes would not be out of place in Beckett, Ionesco or Brecht - with perhaps the odd dash of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale thrown in.
If the dialogue occasionally lacks the poignant resonances and cadences of Beckett's world-weary existentialism, nevertheless there is much here to revel in and reflect upon.
Anti-hero
Franz Woyzeck, the multi-purpose servant of a German captain, is a poor barber at odds with the world, the prototype for the 20th century's anti-hero. "That man is haunted by everything - he's wound up like a watch spring".
The captain considers him "amoral and stupid", largely because of Woyzeck's poverty.
Woyzeck also makes spare cash by permitting a pompous doctor to experiment on him. He has eaten nothing but peas in order to prove some obscure scientific premise.
The bewildered Woyzeck then finds out his girlfriend, Marie, with whom he has a son, is having an affair with the drum major, which sends him over the edge into a fit of unquenchable rage, leading to the work's violent and poignant denouement.
Crisp direction
Dan Danson's direction is crisp and workmanlike as the play's array of stereotypical, emblematic characters parades before us, strutting their stuff persuasively and engagingly.
The cast of six are all splendid throughout, with Dan Porter excellent as the permanently-vexed Woyzeck and Amanda Horlock first class as his provocative, sexy partner Marie.
There are also fine performances by Kirsty Cox as Margaret and Justin Deauville as the permanently-threatening Drum Major.
The splendid Tim Kane gives a first-rate performance as the aloof doctor, while no less convincing is Martin Richie as the haughty captain.
The theatre itself - being in the round and therefore lacking the restricting proscenium - lends itself well to this deeply allegorical play.
Whether thought-provoking intelligent productions like this can prove financially viable in a TV celebrity-dominated age may sadly prove another matter.
Woyzeck runs until Saturday 24 May,
Box Office - 0117 902 0344 | | | "He has eaten nothing but peas in order to prove some obscure scientific premise." |
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