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Of monsters and movie men
MEN OF MONSTERS
Hen and chickens theatre
AMERICA, 1962: As the citizens brace themselves for a Soviet nuclear attack, Hollywood is attempting to remake Japanese monster flick Kingukongu tai Gojira into King Kong versus Godzilla and the two men in the prehistoric bodysuits, Willis (Adrian Lloyd) and Hauro (Godzilla), do not see eye to eye. Willis is a violent wreck intent on drinking himself to destruction; Hauro is a vicious, calculating man with a God complex.
It’s a cracking idea turned to good account in Matt Borgatti’s first London play, Men of Monsters. With the film spiralling wildly over-budget and radio broadcasts announcing the latest developments in the Cold War, the conflicting agendas of everyone on set continue to vie for dominance. Creative principles, studio costs, sponsors’ product placements, pride, egos, monsters and the impacts on Japan from the Hiroshima bomb all merge into one frenetic bundle.
On the second night of the play the actors were still warming to their roles slightly, but there was much to enjoy, including some nice physical theatre: George, the film director (Stephen Connery Brown), portrays his camera with his fingers, and first-time film actress Sally (Holly Walters) asked for a mimed glass of water, which was instantly dropped.
This play will satisfy fans of fringe theatre with a story that takes a popular rumour about an iconic monster flick and turns it into a metaphor about the not so good old days.
Until April 11
020 7704 2001 |
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