WHITE CABIN. To 23 August.

Edinburgh - Fringe

WHITE CABIN
by Maxim Isaev and Pawel Semtschenko

Akhe Group at St Stephens To 21-23 August 2003
1pm
Runs 1hr 10min No interval

TICKETS: 0131 558 3853
www.komedia.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 August

Mesmerising theatricality that's fresh and stimulatingly original.Unless you're addicted to the notion that theatre has to be about spoken dialogue (there's virtually none here) explaining events fully, the rich theatricality of this show has to be seen. Its trio may not be pinned down by names and psychological motivations - they are far more like moving iconic figures, such as flow across the framing screens in the later part of the 70 inventive minutes.

Meaning, in a cognitive sense, could vary from viewer to viewer. You'd have to be immersed in the cast's culture and history - if not their individual consciences - to pick up the 'intended' thoughts. But that's not necessary. As live and film images (some specially shot, others apparently historical footage) interplay, a sense of characters searching, flowing past each other - deliberately, protectively or helplessly - builds.

Early on, light is focused in small areas. From these isolated pools objects apparently float or hang in space. Connections can be fantastic, even surreal. A man hangs himself in an orange noose - except, it breaks transforming into a stream of blood.

The woman seems to observe, detached - until she grasps the ends of two long ropes. Facing away from us, her silent scream is only, momentarily, glimpsed as a mirror swings in fron of her face. A smoke-wreathed devil reads from some book; a man wrapped in newspapers runs across the stage, back and foirth, until the newspapers evetually tear off to leave him naked.

Later, the stage is filled by three sheets, projections seeming to pass through them. Receding, rectangular cut-outs in their centres allow us to see the actors (backed by offsetting film images). They pass in procession, time and again, side to side, with a formality, its ritual element increased by candles (a lot of these, throughout) and Nick Sudnik's music, which can be incantatory - like suggestions of a mournful march, tingling at times with metallic decoration.

Comic, profound - however you take it - White Cabin is brilliantly compelling.

Performers:
Maxim Isaev, Pawel Semtschenko, Baaarbara Seiffert

Directors: Maxim Isaev, Pawel Semtschenko
Lighting: Vadim gollolobov
Sound: Andrej Sizintsev
Music: Nick Sudnik

2003-08-19 20:13:05