Heart of Darkness
SpaceTriplex (Venue 38)
Verdict: four stars
Last time I checked, journeying into The Heart of Darkness wasn’t meant to be this enjoyable. Cambridge University born company Scandal and Gallows’ production of Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella is well and truly riveting. Intense from start to finish, George Johnston’s one-man solo adaptation of the book more than does justice to one of the defining pieces of 20th century literature.
Whilst Shakespeare’s Hamlet is frequently cited as one of the most difficult roles in the world of theatre, Conrad’s less lauded Marlowe can’t be too far behind. The steamboat captain goes from an exuberant advocate of the white man’s burden, in love with the imperialist ideal, to a weather beaten shell of a man, traumatised by the horrors he finds along the Congo River. Guy Clark, a 21-year-old Cambridge History graduate is tasked with the role and he rises to the challenge admirably.
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As the focal point of the play he never once loses the visceral emotion needed to command the audience’s attention for an hour on his own. Recalling his travels on the deck of a ship on the Thames to the audience, he unravels before our very eyes. He begins the production wide-eyed and excitable and finishes sweat-drenched and traumatised. Not only does he fill Marlow’s shoes, he also takes on the guise of the various characters Marlowe meets along the journey - showing off a repertoire of different accents ranging from Belgian to Congolese with flickers of humour.
The intensity of Clark’s performance was complemented by a brilliant production. The intimate setting in the downstairs basement of the SpaceTriplex, with a stripped down set consisting of three wooden crates and not much more, accentuates the restless fury of Conrad’s words. The most powerful student production at the fringe? Quite possibly. It’s a voyage not to be missed.
Reviewed by Shingi Mararike for the News Academy