When it comes to understanding the times we live in, going to see a play written by French-German writer Marion Bott and directed by the Greek theatre director Zois Pigadas seems like the perfect activity to gain new perspectives and take a step back from ourselves to see a bigger picture.
This new show at the Arcola Theatre, produced by The Alchemist and Fine Line, takes us into the world of Melissa (Sarah Alles), an art teacher living in Berlin who we meet just as she decides to hang herself from her artist workshop’s ceiling with her favourite red cashmere scarf. Luckily, at least for us, her husband calls her mobile and soon enough, one of her ex-students, Mehdi (Moe Bar-El), appears on her doorstep. He is looking to reconnect with her, and we soon understand that the two have a past as lovers. While Mehdi can’t quite express what he’s feeling and seems haunted by his past (his deceased friend Khan is appearing to him), Melissa encourages him to pick up a paintbrush and join her in a night of expressive artistic expression.
