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Notes From Underground Theatre Simple Cinema at FringeHUB Until 13 March The lights go down, the actor enters and sits on a cube in the middle of the stage. The opening monologue begins in darkness with the actor's back to us. The words spurt from him with intensity and vigour, and I think, "oh no, what have I come to see, looks like one of those self indulgent, 'I know more than you', find yourself, pretentious waffles". Until...the lights are on and the 'Underground Man', Andrew Litzky, stands and turns round to face us with a red clown nose on his face. A sigh of relief, I have a feeling I judged too quickly. In the performance, the 'Underground Man' continuously sets himself up and pulls himself back down in such a gratifying way. Meanwhile each time he does this, you fall deeper and deeper into him and into the performance. This show is a perfectly timed piece of work, pushing you to the edge then quickly snatching you back in. Litzky has a strong energy as the man in self-exile underground and he never leaves you hanging. For a touring show, the Union Cinema seemed to be where the production belonged, with great use of the total surrounding environment. (However, if you're seeing anything in the Cinema, wear a jumper and try and get a seat in the front - the ascending seats don't go very high.) The production keeps its origins in Dostoesvky with a touch of a Russian soundtrack and the occasional speech in Russian, placing you in the foreign landscape, full of a philosophy, tradition and history that doesn't really exist here in Adelaide. If you find yourself thinking too much that you think too much about thinking too much then doubting your thoughts about thinking too much, don't worry you're not alone - and this play is for you. |
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