The Caucasian Chalk Circle

‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ by Brecht, is based on a traditional 14^th century Chinese story. This has been adapted by Frank McGuinness and is being presented by Black Swan Theatre Company in conjunction with The Hotbed Ensemble in the PICA Theatre Space in Northbridge, at 8.00 pm nightly until 15^th March. There are some matinees.

Brecht wrote this German play in 1944, whilst living in the United States. Although described as ‘a story within a story’ it is actually two parallel tales followed by the ‘Circle’.

The Russian peasants have resolved their land ownership after the retreat of the Nazis. Giving thanks at church, the Governor and his obnoxious wife (Anita Erceg) have been told by the Fat Prince that their child is likely to be a future Governor. Their maid, Grusha (Amanda Woodhams), meets an infatuated soldier, Simon (Thomas Papathanassiou), who tells how he has watched her doing her laundry in a stream. At a later meeting, the soldier gives her a silver cross.
The Fat Prince hangs the Governor and with a coup, takes over. Grusha finds the dead Governor’s abandoned son, Michael, and being the true heir, takes him to the mountains for safety. On discovering the Nazi Ironshirts are looking for the boy, she leaves him on a peasant’s doorstep. After an altercation with a perverted Corporal, she then takes the child to her brother, Lavrenti’s farm. Grusha tells Lavrenti’s wife, Aniko, that Michael is her child. Travelling to her father’s farm, Grusha catches scarlet fever so has to stay there for a lengthy recuperation. To quell rumours, Grusha marries Yussup, a ‘dying’ local peasant. His miserable mother (Jo Morris) receiving a large fee for the service.
When the Grand Duke has a coup and gets rid of the Fat Prince, Yussup suddenly ‘recovers’. Soldier Simon returns and finds Grusha married with a child. She tells him Michael is not hers, but Simon hears her telling the Ironshirts otherwise and so leaves broken hearted. To make things worse, the Governor’s wife demands the return of her son.
In a second, but parallel story, Azdak (Brendan Ewing) on finding that the peasant he has been sheltering is actually the Grand Duke, thinks he has committed treason and so is about to confess. When the Ironshirts return, they consider him a radical. The Fat Prince arrives on the scene and plots to have his nephew takeover. Azdak suggests to the Fat Prince, that he could enact a fictitious trial with an idiot for a judge (Ben Russell) to improve his image; however the Ironshirts are so impressed with Azdak, that they declare him the new leader. As the pressure of the new regime builds, Azdak has to grovel to the Governor’s widow. In the process, he promises to return Michael and kill Grusha. 
The Chalk Circle is the final section of the play where Grusha is under trial fighting to retain Michael.

Complicated? Bertolt Brecht is never a walk-in-the-park, but The Caucasian Chalk Circle is generally recognised as his best play. I went expecting a fairly heavy going night but Adam Mitchell, who has already proved himself as innovative and talented director with such shows as ‘The Laramie Project’ has raised the bar to its absolute limit. This beguiling play is full of magic. Amazingly Adam has managed to remove the nastier side of the play and yet retain the writer’s storyline and emotion. This version is basically a comedy set to music.

Brad Reid’s costumes are mainly, necessarily, black but have style and are skilfully tailored. His outstanding set and striking backdrop immediately gives the feeling of the location. Poor Andrew Hale had his lighting console collapse on him – TWICE – this week and although apologies were made for it not being up to standard, it was still some of the best seen this season. The soft ambers, well thought out angles achieved just the right effect. Claudia Alessi’s graceful movement and ethnic choreography again set the scene’s location. Khat Kerr’s team coped with the many props and costume changes.
Then there is the music, wow, Steve Hearne has effectively written an opera in the folk music genre, the instruments and songs, which were delightfully presented by the cast were absolutely stunning.

The fabulous cast all worked extremely hard for the full 140 minutes, but I am sure that they won’t mind me picking out Amanda (Grusha) who has just turned 18 and is a star in the making. The audience were captivated and enthralled. One runs out of superlatives for his show.