Nocturne

As far as playwriting goes, Adam Rapp's Nocturne is in a league of its own. From the very first line, it presents itself as a dynamic and bold piece of literature.

During the course of its story, the audience experiences sorrow, fear, laughter and ultimately tragedy (or perhaps it was tragedy all along?); all at the hands of a single, brave actor.

For this European premiere by Almeida Theatre Company, director Matt Wilde does not hesitate to take risks. He presents the play in the smaller, confined performance area of the Traverse. The stage is set with the minimum of props and lighting creates silhouettes using a single yellow-white colour.

Overall, the atmosphere works best when things are kept most simple. The narration is interrupted several times (at the break of acts) by a projection of moving images and dissonant piano music. While the artistic intention is appreciated, these additions inevitably distract from the narrator's story and pull the audience away from the emotion rather than add to it.

Lone actor Peter McDonald is certainly up to the challenge of this work. His character evolves based on the immediate reaction of the audience; he knows exactly how far to push the humour of a scene without it becoming ridiculous. McDonald recounts his story as if it is occurring in front of his eyes, and the intensity of his emotions can be mesmerizing. At the same time, his down-to-earth persona seems to initially conflict with the eloquence of his language, and it may take a while for the audience to understand why he behaves in such a paradoxical manner.

In the end, the Almeida should be praised for the courage of its production. Nocturne is an impressive and extremely difficult work, and this production should be recognised for meeting the majority of its challenges.