THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
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REVIEWS A Clockwork Orange Script Ed DuRante, Musical Director Fred Carl, Director Dawn Reid Theatre Royal Stratford East Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London E15 1BN
For the bolder theatre–goer this production is well worth seeing. From the opening scene of in–your–face violence one is drawn in by the power, the menace the vibrancy all the more emphasised by the proximity of the actors in this tiny theatre. One may want to recoil, but the artful staging, the choreography of the fight scenes, mimed brilliantly, and the delivery of all of the players is compelling. Ashley Hunter as Alex is terrifying yet endearing. Kirris Rifiere (Jeffrey), on the surface all benevolence and warmth, stirs the imagination to the horrors of prison life. And the despair of Alex’s parents at their son’s abhorrent antics is touching to behold. The show has an exciting mixture of contemporary music accompanying the terrifying scenes, jazz and soul fusions, hip hop and rap. The music may be disconcerting or disappointing for some, but the use of rap, so clearly enunciated, provides the perfect storytelling device. So much action and drama in such a confined space is well worth seeing in its own right. But above all this is a tale of redemption. What happens to Alex? The story goes further than the film and the first U.S. editions of the book, which missed a final chapter. Alex sees the light. One leaves the theatre with a spirit of hope. And even if you miss this production it is well worth checking out Theatre Royal Stratford East (www.stratfordeast.com). |
