This is a new adaptation of the Dostoevsky short story, directed and adapted by Saulius Varnas for The Playground Theatre. Varnas has merged his Lithuanian influence with the colourful imaginings created in the original play by Dostoevsky. This one act production is crafted as a modernisation of the story of a man who, at the moment of his suicide, falls asleep and dreams of a Utopia on another planet. The set is minimal. And it does not take long to realise why. The screen backdrop brings the piece into the modern age of world theatre with the use of projected images and film footage, thus highlighting the moments of the story where we are taken back and forth from dream into reality. Some of the sound cues were slighty sharp at the edges, but the effect of the soundscape, music and images on the narrative was astounding. The film augmentation is a real compliment to the telling of the story, thanks to the work of Helena Hipolito.
The production value is high on this piece of theatre art. The language is beautifully delivered by Peter Tate, as we follow the journey through his dream. This (possibly psychedelic) journey is often stark, and it darkens the pitfalls of the human condition. Contrasted with moments of sheer beauty, where the exquisite music and artwork of Lithuanian artist M.K Ciurlionis, conjures an atmosphere to highlight the protagonist’s potential cure for the human condition. Perhaps, more accurately his own cure for why he is suicidal. In order to heal, surely you need to know what is causing the problem?
There are moments we may think we are watching the character of Peer Gynt. Though unlike the serial fantasist qualities of Gynt, Tate connects with his character as if he is sharing his dream with us intimately, offering us the reality and the potential cure to make a better world. The juxtaposition of imagery, music and movement offers a performance that Peter Brook may have created in his heyday. Tate delivers the piece with astonishing agility, and carries the thread of the piece like a finely-honed symphonic concert. The Playground Theatre is the perfect venue for this piece, with a space every actor would love to perform in at some point in their career. I look forward to seeing more as The Playground Theatre gathers momentum.
https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/the-dream-of-a-ridiculous-man
