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Michael Cox reviews a production that 'looks great but is just too safe for its own good'.
It is next to impossible to discuss The Destroyed Room in any depth, for it is a delicate piece in its dramaturgical structure. In many ways it isn't a ‘play’ in the classical sense but is more of a theatrical installation. It takes a photograph by Jeff Wall depicting a room filled with destruction and uses it as a jumping off point for a look at politics and society.
To say any more would really be classified as a spoiler.
Director Matthew Lenton has created a genuinely interesting piece. The cast and crew are uniformly great, Kai Fischer’s design is much more complicated than it first appears and the production’s 75-minute running time passes quickly.
And yet, as a whole, it isn't a completely satisfying experience. Without giving too much away, the production steers into difficult waters, asking some unsettling questions about modern life and the political world we live in. These are pertinent questions, questions worthy of theatrical exploration. Instead, the production seems satisfied in passing judgement on those on stage with a detached smugness rather than engaging the audience in an uncomfortable conversation.
In short, The Destroyed Room looks great but is just too safe for its own good. It ends on an impressive note, but that's down to excellent technical execution rather than spirit.
Touring the UK.
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