Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio (Italy) et al. Dunstan Playhouse. 25 Feb 2016
This show is what the Adelaide Festival is all about. Artistic Director David Sefton says that Romeo Castellucci is one of the best and most important theatre directors in the world today. "It's a big statement, but I see a lot of theatre, and almost all of it cannot hold a candle to Castellucci." Zowee! Don't bother reading the review, rush out for a ticket!
Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio, of Cesena (near Bologna), was founded by Romeo, his sister, and another pair of siblings way back in 1981, due to their dislike of museum-like theatre that lacked movement. Ironically, their brand of theatre - and this work is exemplary - "is conceived in tableaux and fragments; like psychic vibrations that ripple across space and time," says Romeo. You got to love the Italians.
Romeo calls the show a transfiguration of various moments in the life of Moses, and if you can see more than 10% of anything Moses, you are a better man than I am, Gunga Din. But it doesn't matter because you already know the story of Moses and your ticket is for Romeo's transfiguration. The work comprises a series of disparately formatted and mostly wordless and often enigmatic scenes, and you have the fun of joining the dots. One scene is one of the most harrowing experiences I have had in theatre. The shear creativity and inventive use of theatre space and devices, performance, light and sound is extraordinary. You will be blown away.
Nonetheless, I was reminded of several early scenes from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyessy. Otherwise, you're unlikely to have seen anything like this. Unless you've been to Cesena (near Bologna). Bravo!
David Grybowski
When: 25 to 28 Feb
Where: Dunstan Playhouse
Bookings: adelaidefestival.com.au
