JOE. To 12 March.

London

JOE
by Richard Maxwell

The Pit (Barbican Theatre) To 12 March 2005
Mon-Sat 7.45pm
Runs 1hr 20min No interval

TICKETS: 0845 120 7511
www.barbican.org.uk (reduced booking fee online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 2 March

Distinctive style, abrasive but strangely compelling.Richard Maxwell's New York City Players are regulars in the Barbican's international theatre programme BITE. At a first seeing they make an impression, though I wouldn't want much theatre to be like this.

The main device used in Joe isn't new. Over 20 years ago a Liverpool Macbeth had the title character played by 3 actors in different stages of his personality. Unlike Shakespeare, Maxwell, with his 5-actor voyage through a life not so much Everyman as Anyman, doesn't bother writing a full action. It limits the show to one viewpoint, which easily becomes egotistical.

The split between performers, from child to senior citizen, helps relieve this. And structural formality gives the piece a supporting shape. Each actor takes over in a solo spotlight mid-song (there's some unpretty, gruesome singing) before the stage is flooded with white light for the spoken life-memories, closing in another song until another stage in life enters. The Joes are unified by their red, hooded coats.

Not only maturing facial features, or the growth of stubble to beard, bind these incarnations. Each has a kind of laugh, a spoken-out set of Ha. Ha's. In youth they're hard, loud, defiant. With age the assertiveness evaporates.

Life for Joe is a matter of football and desire. This focuses on lifetime acquaintance Shannon, who remains ever distant, even when close. That resonates with his tendency to walk, if not drift, always looking for somewhere different from the places where life's knocking him about a bit. If the first part's an ascent up the property ladder, it's reflected with severe downsizing of home and expectations in the second part.

At least, if I've picked up the right clues from the declamations. The audience becomes a single captive auditor. In their harsh, compulsive voices these Joes insist in relating their life story, not as a matter of burning importance so much as with a sense of trying to verify the life that's been happening.

It's all stark and monochrome as the white stage floor. And the final mechanistic gives a downbeat end to it all. But it certainly makes an impression.

Joe: Richard Zhuravenko
Joe: Jonah Westerman
Joe: Brian Mendes
Joe: Jimmie James
Joe: Gene Wynne
Rob: Joseph Silovsky

Director: Richard Maxwell
Designer: Gary Wilmes
Lighting: Jane Cox
Song arrangements: Bob Feldman, Richard Maxwell, Scott Sherratt
Costume: Tory Vazquez

New York City Players also in their 30-minute Showcase 14-19 March 7pm, 8pm, 9pm at Renaissance Chancery Court hotel for an audience of 15 per show.

2005-03-03 18:11:18