‘A Sashimi Knife of a play’ as described by director Ed Madden is a completely fitting way to reflect on this piece. Sharply detailed, but definitely Old School. The real strength being the writing by Marek Horn which is the back bone of the piece- it’s witty, jarring and when looked at visually on the page tantalising for an actor and creative team to unpick, carve out and probe.
It’s really good writing, put simply it is about what happens when the fish go away and half of the world is under water. With this depiction you’d expect the stage to be set in a suitable fractured and sophisticated way to not only support the razor sharp writing and delivery of the company but also an opportunity for the director to use their skill and ability to showcase our industry post pandemic. However, a lack of imagination and a lack of listening as well as collaboration seem apparent.
The set is a courtroom, suggesting in its sloping sides maybe the hull of a boat or perhaps even the shape of a tin of canned tuna- nodding to the sacred last hope to finding out: “Where did the fish go?” and the harrowing tomb of Calantini’s brother.
