The Red Room

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story The Masque of the Red Death, The Red Room centres around a group of people who have escaped a vicious plague by locking themselves away for debauched merriment.

The fact that it is inspired by a parable about never escaping death should highlight the bleak nature of the piece. Yes, there are some humorous moments, but this is not a happy-go-lucky production; it is disturbing.

One cannot find fault with any of the six performers, all of whom not only perform brilliantly but manage to move in surprising ways that are beautiful, haunting and, at times, horrifying. There are some playful moments in the piece, which is directed by Al Seed and choreographed by David Hughes, but it all builds into a finale that is both awe-inspiring and unnerving.

However, when one looks to the narrative the faults begin to appear. As excellent as each performance is, it isn’t necessarily clear who each person represents and what is happening. A working knowledge of Poe’s story will certainly help, but those ignorant of the story will only be able to get the general gist of what is unfolding.

The performances are all so brilliant that anyone who enjoys complicated physical theatre should find much to like and admire. However, those looking for a form of narrative and character will probably be let down.

Reviewed at Edinburgh Fringe 2009.