When word gets out how good this Royal Ballet production of The Metamorphosis is, you may not be able to find a jar of molasses or dark Karo Syrup in any deli in Chelsea. (Syrup as bug juice plays a big role in this piece of theater.) Your first concern, however, should be whether you will be able to find a ticket to any of the remaining performances of this intriguing movement theater piece now in play at the Joyce Theater through September 29th.
Haglund always thought that he had a pretty good imagination when it came to conjuring up images while reading Franz Kafka's novella, but this dance theater adaptation by Arthur Pita really transported the mind to a place where it couldn't get to by itself.
Edward Watson as Gregor Samsa, Corey Annand as Grete Samsa, Nina Goldman as Mrs. Samsa, Anton Skrzypiciel as Mr. Samsa, Bettina Carpi in the multiple roles of Maid/Coffee Lady/Dream Figure/Bearded Man, Sam Archer in the multiple roles of Clerk/Dream Figure/Bearded Man, Amir Giles as the the third Bearded Man, and Scarlett Perdereau as the TV Fitness Instructor delivered a superb ensemble performance that brought to life the horror of the family's situation for each of their characters.
When reading Kafka's The Metamorphosis, one tends to focus sympathy on Gregor, the unhappy and insignificant salesman who is a slave to his work, because he is the victim who turns into a hideous roach and ultimately gives up his home and family so that they can live in peace. But in this dance adaptation, one appreciates as well the perspectives of Gregor's parents and particularly his sister as they struggle to come to terms and survive with this most disgusting relative living among them.
The stage, designed by Simon Daw, is divided in half without partition -- on the left is Gregor's darkened bedroom which is transformed into horrific stickiness and slime of cinematic proportions while on the right is the pristine white kitchen where the Samsas congregated each day and ordered their lives with extreme detail. Lighting designer Guy Hoare fabulously captured the contrasts in the two sides of the set. The score, created and performed/administered by Frank Moon, is a composite of guitar, violin, tam-tam, voice, and various recordings that would all have been easier to listen to and differentiate if the volume had not been so loud. The calmness of the voice as it described Kafka-ish matters of science and life – It is a known fact that ants have slaves – contributed nicely to the tone of the evening.
Edward Watson's physical abilities are unusual to say the least. Yes, he's known as a fine ballet dancer, but the articulation of his long toes and fingers is not something that we see every day, not even in New York. He made a very believable roach, something that we do see every day in New York, but gave the bug an immense amount of humanity as well.
Corey Annand, a 2012 graduate of the Elmhurst School for Dance, is a marvelous actress. Her character studies ballet like so many little girls, and we witnessed her maturation throughout the evening. Toward the end, she engaged in some basic barre work in which her stress level became apparent and we observed in her some characteristics of her bug-brother. She delivered the final, ominous, and very touching image of the performance as she turned slowly in a circle while reaching with her arms toward the ceiling in Gregor's bedroom.
Bettina Carpi in one of her roles as the maid, continually cleaned up after Gregor with terrific sass while deftly manipulating around on a floor covered with slippery, syrupy bug juice.
Watson won an Olivier Award for this work in 2011. Right next to it on his fireplace mantel, he'll undoubtedly want to display his H.H. Pump Bump Award, a Jimmy Choo suede boot with climbing lattice, for brilliantly bringing to life Kafka's masterpiece.
Googled pics of Metamorphosis. Wow, looks quite intriguing. And messy. :) Watson must be fascinating to watch in this.
Haglund, this is off-topic, but I've read on Ballet Alert that a former ABT principal dancer is going to be in one performance during the Met 2014 season. Any ideas who it might be?
Posted by: Kit | September 20, 2013 at 07:51 PM
probably osipova.
Posted by: Haglund | September 20, 2013 at 07:54 PM
Argh. I forgot about her. But now that you've said it, it does seem the most likely. *sigh*
Posted by: Kit | September 20, 2013 at 10:56 PM