(Marc Kay)
Outstanding production sure to receive further exposure.
(Review by Keith Millar)
A deserved winner of a Standard Bank Ovation Encore Award at
this year’s National Arts Festival in Grahamstown was Durban-based Actors
Unemployed Company’s impressive Gothic horror story The Erl King.
Originally written by John Connolly The Erl King was adapted for stage and is performed by the talented
Durban actor Marc Kay.
The story is about a lonely young lad named David.
Devastated by the death of his mother after a long illness, he experiences deep
emotional turmoil when his father decides to re-marry. Soon they have a baby
and David feels further isolated.
He takes to wandering alone in a forest of Alder trees. But
he is not alone. He is confronted by a horrific creature as old as the woods
themselves. The creature wants to consume him, and his only escape is to
sacrifice another.
The story is brilliantly told through shadow puppetry and a
remarkable solo performance Marc Kay. Kay is blessed with a beautiful sonorous
voice which he uses to excellent effect in both the live and pre-recorded
segments of the production. He is a skilled storyteller and he delivers a
haunting performance.
The use of shadow puppets in the telling of the story is
also outstanding. With creatures designed by Peter Court and created by Clare
Mortimer, Bryan Hiles and Marc Kay, they certainly add an evil and sinister
edge to the proceedings. The puppets are operated on stage by Marc Kay and Bryn
Hiles who is also the director of the production.
The set also deserves a mention. Made up only of four
skeletal Alder trees and a wooden bench, and fed liberally with stage smoke,
they create a bleak and chilly atmosphere which was helped I am sure by
Grahamstown’s cold weather.
The Erl King is an
outstanding production which is sure to receive further exposure. When that
happens don’t miss the opportunity to see it. – Keith Millar
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