[Published on Theatre Bubble, read the original piece here]
The inaugural show of The Playground Theatre enriches the West London theatre scene with an adventurous and awe-inspiring production. Opening its doors with a brave and multimedia show, Picasso, The Playground moves the first steps towards establishing itself as a valuable and impactful addition to the West London cultural panorama.
Oscillating between the lyric and the erotic, and with inebriating passion woven into pretty much every line, Picasso sketches the portraits of (some of) the (several) lovers of the Spanish artist. The story-telling mode the play adopts could easily be defined “cubist”: snippets of physical theatre, fiery and poetic dialogue, and gorgeous film extracts form a multifaceted picture of Picasso as an artist and a lover.
Picasso by Terry d’Alfonso. Photograph: Tristram Kenton
Particularly successful is the way the script brings to life the tormented nature of Picasso’s relationship with women (though admittedly mostly from Picasso’s perspective). The recurring image of the bull/Minotaur organically blends into a single metaphor his Spanish roots, his attitude towards art, and his obsession with women and control. Indeed, if we were to condense the play in one word, that would probably be “conquest”. While a modern audience may find his attitude towards women appalling, to label the production “misogynist” would be to misinterpret it. It is in fact very rare to see a play handling a complex theme this effectively and smoothly, regardless of our endorsement of it. And for this cohesiveness, credit goes to both the flamboyant script by Terry D’Alfonso and the direction of Michael Hunt.
The set is also a highly evocative one: consisting of a bullfight arena filled with real sand, it helps to conjure up the god-like aura of Picasso, as well as the impotence of his “victims”. The choice to intersperse the acting with short films screened in the background adds up to the pathos (and the number of lovers) of the plot.
Adele Oni, Peter Tate, Alejandra Costa and Claire Bowman. Photograph: Tristram Kenton
As well as the opening show for The Playground as a space, Picasso marks the theatrical début of Alejandra Costa and Claire Bowman, both of which quite remarkable as Jacqueline Roque and Marie-Thérèse Walter respectively. Meanwhile Peter Tate, co-founder of The Playground and here playing Picasso himself, is mostly credible in his mimic and gestures. All in all, Picasso is a memorable production, vibrating with absorbing and expressive performances.
Four stars
Picasso
The Playground Theatre
1st – 25th November 2017
Writer: Terry d’Alfonso
Director: Michael Hunt
Associate Producer: Jessica Andrews
Design and Costumes: Klara Zieglerova
Movement Director: Maria Koripas
Lighting Design: David Cunningham
AV and Sound Design: Matthew Ferguson
Associate Designer: Rachel Twyford
Production Manager: David Stothard
Assistant Director: Thomas Mittelheuser
Stage Manager: Holly Marsh
Cast: Peter Tate, Adele Oni, Claire Bowman, Alejandra Costa
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