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A classic tale in modern telling
Jude Monk McGowan as Frederic Henry and Laura Atherton as Catherine Barkley. Pictures: Ed Waring A Farewell to Arms
Birmingham Rep Studio
*** This adaptation
of Ernest Hemingway’s novel by innovative theatre group
Imitating the Dog
is a multi-media, multi lingual experience with cameras on stage and
prose projected everywhere. It tells the story of American Frederic Henry,
serving as a Lieutenant in the ambulance corps of the Italian Army and
his love affair with British nurse Catherine Barkley against the
backdrop of the First World War. Written some eighty five years ago, its staging
coincides with the interest surrounding the centenary of the First World
War, extensive use is made of surtitles when the dialogue is in Italian. The opening is attention grabbing and compelling
as a group of readers break into the set and convert into the players. A
cast of six are kept busy. Laura Atherton (Catherine) and Jude
Andrew Quick and Peter Brooks have adapted and
direct proceedings which are multi-dimensional, and at times
technologically frenetic. The set, designed by Laura Hopkins, is sparse,
invoking the sense of both a television studio and hospital ward.
Simon Wainwright dominates proceedings with his
video work. Steven Jackson’s impressive background music is augmented by
original contributions from Jeremy Peyton-Jones with occasional piano
contributions, the latter of which I found somewhat intrusive. Andrew
Crofts as lighting designer will have had a few afternoons off, choosing
a simple white light set from two stage side gantries. Catherine’s labour is unnecessarily laboured, but
the use of a chorus to articulate her thoughts as she gets on with the
business end of proceedings is clever, moving, and effective. Full use of technology portrays the moment when
Frederic is injured in battle in gruelling, painful and visceral style,
and in the first act, a memorable scene unfolds as Catherine and
Frederic speak to camera away from the audience with their images
projected on to hospital modesty screens. Yet too often the camera work seems to slow
things down and detach the characters from the audience. Would the play
have been better without them? Jude Monk McGowan is well cast as
Frederic, but the script offers Laura Atherton little room for manoeuvre
as his love interest, damaging her credibility both as a nurse and
seductress. As a love story it convinces, particularly in the
second half, with the dehumanizing cynical backcloth of war omnipresent.
The technology will divide opinion, at times it is very effective, on
other occasions it feels as if it was used simply because it was there,
rather than to enhance the dramatic experience. To 22-11-14 Gary Longden
19-11-14
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Monk
McGowan (Frederic) as principles remain in character, but the supporting
cast of Joshua Johnson, Morven Macbeth, Matt Prendergas and Marco Rossi
play multiple roles including narration.