Sydney Reviews

Photos - Keith Pattison

When Kathryn Hunter scrambles on stage, you totally believe she’s an ape in a man’s clothing. The position of her hands and the way she bends her arms is utterly mesmerising. This woman must have rather oddly jointed elbows.

Kafka’s Monkey is a monologue given in Lecture form by Red Peter who is an ape. Said ape has developed human speech and movement after mimicking the crew of a ship he was held captive on. Upon, reaching land he had the choice of either the zoo or variety theatre. He chose the life of a thespian. Red Peter found himself under the constant gaze of the humans, a race he felt alienated from.

Kafka’s Monkey is based on the short story A Report to An Academy by Franz Kafka. Kafka had an enormous capacity for self-loathing, imagining himself as all kinds of despicable creatures in his short stories and novels. Most famously of all, he imagined himself as a bug, in Metamorphoses. (An adaptation of this is being staged down the road at the Sydney Theatre from next week). What both stories share is a sense of the extreme isolation of the protagonist from those around him. Kafka was heavily persecuted as a Czechoslovakian Jew. He also experienced alienation on a far more personal level at home through the constant disapproval of his father.

Directed by Walter Meierjohann, the production premiered at the Young Vic theatre in London in March before transferring to Sydney. Kathryn Hunter is a veteran of the stage and screen, appearing in everything from Othello to Harry Potter. Her status as a world class physical performer is apparent here. One wonders how many hours of footage of chimps she watched with movement coach IIan Reichel in order to create such a perfect mimic.

Playwright Colin Teevan uses gentle humour to ease the audience into the idea that they are being lectured to by a member of another species. Hands are shaken and bananas offered to the front row by way of introduction. The humour is always restrained and thankfully we are spared the obvious gags about eating one’s own poo. Sound (Nikola KodJabashia) and lighting (Mike Gunning) are also inconspicuous, only noticeable when the situation is at its most dire. The whole team seem to be aware that its Hunter’s performance that makes the play sing.

If you’ve never seen a woman playing a chimp, impersonating a man doing the splits, here’s your chance


Sydney Theatre Company presents a Young Vic production
KAFKA’S MONKEY
Based on A Report to an Academy by Franz Kafka
Adapted by Colin Teevan

Director Walter Meirjohann

Venue: Wharf 2, Sydney Theatre Company, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Dates: 15 to 25 April 2009
Times: Tuesday – Friday 8.15pm; Saturday 2.15pm & 8pm; Sunday April 19 at 5.15pm
Tickets: $30 – 65 (Booking fees may apply. Concessions available.)
Box Office: 02 9250 1777
Visit: sydneytheatre.com.au/kafka