Woyzeck **** 1/2

‘Woyzeck’ is the latest production from the Black Swan Theatre Company and the City of Perth. It is presented by the Be Active BSX Theatre at PICA, Northbridge each evening at 8 pm until the 29^th July.

Woyzeck (Brendan Ewing) is a simple Eastern European peasant, living in an oppressive regime with his wife (Sarah Borg) and newborn child. Things are very tough for them both, so he makes money by selling his body to a mad scientist (Alison van Reeken) for strange experiments. He is physically and mentally humiliated by the heartless military captain (Bryn Coldrick). Then, the final straw, his family life takes a disastrous turn for the worse and with no compassion or help from his neighbours or community, the inevitable happens.

Written by Georg Buchner in his early twenties, the story is very dark and simple, but with director Matthew Lutton’s (assistant director Michelle Lowden) outstanding, innovative and at times ingenious lateral approach, this tale becomes a production that will be remembered for years to come. The death scene was startlingly inventive and when combined with the versatile set of Claude Marcos, Ash Gibson Greig’s appropriate music and Lucy Birkinshaw’s creative and inspired lighting, the complete play was most memorable. The latter were both synchronised to the action perfectly.

This superior dramatic piece, which is a weird blend of ‘The Brothers Karamazov’, Edgar Allan Poe and ABC TV’s ‘Carnivale’, is for the deep thinking audience who appreciate quality.

This show, despite the talented cast, on a story ‘enjoyment’ factor would be pushed to get **** but for appreciation of the amazing direction, symbolism and technical skills an easy *****