The Insect Play

The Insect Play / Rep College at Progress Theatre, Reading / August 25

AESOP and Orwell did it with animals, the brothers Capek do it with insects.
  This expressionist realisation of human greed, violence and self destruction, through direct analogy with butterflies, beetles, ants and moths carries the nihilism of Schiele's self-portraits.
  The Rep College draw strongly distinctive moods between these worlds. The actors find individual characteristics and tight physical mannerisms to flutter between. Moments of comedy are well taken. The observing Tramp's casually caustic humour deftly spins the narrative.
  The five butterflies are enchanting; flighty, self obsessed hedonists. Mr and Mrs Beetle are seriously dour amassing material wealth, and crickets chirrupy with home building. Chrysalis is optimistic about being born, she is blind to the sadistic hit-man Ichneumon Fly killing everything edible for his slithering lava daughter, herself a feast for the friendly parasite.
  Cheif Engineer Ant fires the rhetoric of political and military ambition, as heard from Flanders to the Falklands. It carries the undertone of unquestioning subservience to the state.
  The Rep College delivers the Capeks' Insect Play fable with delights and bites.

WOC