The Hanging Man - Improbable Theatre - Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House - 16/05/06

Ethan Switch - Wednesday, 17 May 2006 - Print Version

Dangling from a rather loose noose, The Hanging Man features Death being fed up and taking a break from it all. From the taking of lives, from the removal of the idiots from the stream and generally being done with cleaning up the world of the people otherwise destined for the other side.

Working on a couple of levels on interaction, The Hanging Man swims between an outright story unfolding on stage to one smelling like the air of a rough workshop. Talking like they do to the audience, the cast breathe this connection that jumps the point between now and then. A lot of which leaves time hanging about waiting for the return to the flow.

Absurd is nothing enough to fully comprehend the flavour of the production. Scenes of quiet contemplation sit right next to the wild antics of a priest being taken by spirits and all too complying servants of the king not actually doing anything. Dance numbers pop up here and there as well as what appears to be a party aside and the whole night feels like some good quality trip through some well-lit shadowy back alley.

Set design and lighting is just sublime, a spinning wheel of art for dinner really. Against the wonderfully open stage space is the rather segmented feel of it all. With interchanging voices leading the pack, a well made blend that mixes a synergy of physical craft and storytelling.

Disconnecting from the narrative every so often, the effect is slightly jarring, never quite easing up for a straight laced read. Strange for its execution in delivering the meat of the performance, it's nonetheless an hilarious and entertaining production to witness.

Ethan Switch