At August 012 |
| August 012- Caligula , Chapter, Cardiff , April 14, 2013 |
Caligula, Roman Emperor 12 – 41 AD was widely regarded as insane, self-absorbed and a very angry man. He killed for mere amusement, and indulged in too much spending and sex. He demanded a statue of himself be erected for his worship. That will give you some idea of the sort of chap he was. Whilst Camus acknowledges Caligula as a Roman Emperor he makes no demands on historic realism. In Mathilde Lopez’ lively production we see no togas but young men in smart modern-day linen suits. When we meet Camus’ 1939 Caligula, his sister and lover, another character trait, Drusilla has died. He reacts badly, he demands the moon literally and expects to get it. So sycophantic are those that surround him that in an hilarious moment they attempt to fix it to his groin. Other somewhat vulgarish vignettes pop up from time to time as the story enfolds. Panic occurs before this happens, following Drusilla’s funeral no one knows where he is. A patrician panacea of praise echoes through our wooden world. Cherea, a writer warns them not to be so overwhelmed by their leader. Adam Redmore excels in this role. He also shares the part of Caligula with Christopher Elson who also plays the young poet Scipio with a fine touch of youthful flair. Caligula returns, he exchanges some words of philosophical banter with his good friend Helicon, played by John Norton, all rapping and extraordinarily soled shoes. Next we meet Caesonia, Caligula’s mistress. Nathan Sussex who also shares the part of Cherea who for some while is our chorus and guide through the action. In his female role, a seductress in six-inch stilettoes he gives another engaging and polished performance. She knows she survives by being ready to fulfill her master’s every whim. After the interval we find that the patricians are no longer enamoured with their leader and take their complaints to Cherea who warns them to be careful with their actions. Caligula continues with executions and consorting with wives of his, now not so keen followers. From Scipio we hear the first of plans to kill Caligula, well he has bought it on himself, hasn’t he! But it doesn’t stop there, next we see him in female tennis attire and on a pedestal he proclaims himself Venus and orders all to bow before him. Enough is enough! Helicon tells Caligula that Cherea is leading a plot to kill him. Caligula hears about the conspiracy for one of his minions but he manipulates his words so that it all becomes a joke. He is ready to completely dismiss the idea. As he leaves the arms of Caesonia the conspirators’ knives are raised against him… There is a great deal of dynamic physicality in this unusually staged production. It’s not staged ‘end-on’ or ‘in the round’ or ‘promenade’. Its theatre in the zig-zag with the audience and players mixed in together, all a bit confusing. The character of Caligula needs much more developing. The overall strength of the acting needed to be stronger to help us focus on the consequence of the dialogue and its subtext. We had fun with the wit and dry humour. It was an absurdish production with insufficient acknowledgment of absurdism. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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