A stark white stage, sheer white curtain and two foley tables on either side create a ‘blank canvas’ on which the ensemble constructs the world of the play through words, mime, and sound. The narrator, who calls himself ‘the provocateur’, welcomes us to the ‘rich and rewarding’ experience of theatre. In an early exercise, he invites us to mirror his movements, subtly embedding our participation as the silent majority and encouraging us to 'relinquish a sense of individuality'.
Ionesco’s play, in which townspeople inexplicably transform into rhinoceroses, serves as a vehicle for exploring existentialism, disinformation, and the fragile boundary between fiction and reality. Elerian’s production makes these themes all the more resonant, integrating contemporary references, such as the symbolic use of the watermelon for Palestine, and a sharp, updated translation that holds up an unsettling mirror to our world. His direction heightens the text’s absurdity by fragmenting dialogue across multiple actors and vice versa having different performers embody the same character, questioning the very nature of meaning.
The ensemble moves seamlessly between precise comedic beats and evocative group storytelling. Toby Sedgwick’s movement direction is a standout, particularly in the transitions from human to animal. These transformations, enhanced by audience participation, intensify the play’s central dread: the creeping paranoia of an individual resisting mass conformity.
As the story darkens, the production delivers a gripping portrayal of resistance and perseverance which is both unsettling and inspiring and which speaks to the truth of our current world.
Show Title: Rhinoceros
Venue: Almeida Theatre
Review Date: 02/04/2025
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