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Powerful look at ways to love
SOMETHING NATURAL BUT VERY CHILDISH
The Hen and Chicken Theatre
Inspired and based on the short stories of acclaimed writer Katherine Mansfield, Something Natural But Very Childish has been adapted by director Gary Abraham to produce a full-length play.
Labelled a “humorous exploration of the fantasy of love” by novel company Bag’a’vante, the production does exactly what it says on the tin, encapsulating the abstract notion of love and all its associated issues.
The play is set both in 1910 and the present day, weaving together the stories of three pairs of would-be lovers, a contemporary monologue about love, loss and rejection and the effects of the seemingly ideal man.
The contrast of these separate time periods generates a thought-provoking narrative, with the raw emotion of the modern man juxtaposed against the classical sentiment of the piece as a whole.
This also raises challenging questions about the complicated emotions involved in falling in love.
Abraham’s adaptation is incredibly poignant, with a powerful performance from actor Ian Kier Attard, playing the contemporary man, and a humourous respite from Luisa Hastings Edge, playing the giggly Anne.
For a low-key production, the use of costume and set is also highly commendable, with full Edwardian style outfits and a simplistic yet prominent background.
Bag’a’vante is an adjective describing a pathological dreamer, and Something Natural but very Childish complements this exploration of fantasy through a highly authentic insight into the nature of human behaviour.
020 7704 2001
Until Nov 25 |
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