Tom Kane’s formidable AfterlifeExtra time launches his Liminal Cycle of play on the White Bear Theatre
“I make my way through this pandemonium”
You need to admire the ambition of a author, with two programmed productions beneath his belt, who goals up a complete mythology after which units about making an attempt to dramatise it in a play cycle. Tom Kane’s AfterlifeExtra time thus arrives right here on the White Bear Theatre as the primary chapter within the Liminal Cycle, a saga within the making that reimagines these tales of outdated with a decidedly modern slant.
Kane’s writing additionally proves to be densely poetic, one thing that’s arresting and difficult in equal measure in a disarming opening scene. After the haunting silhouette of a kid opens proceedings, Maayan Amiran’s E wakes up in unfamiliar environment. This hard-bitten promoting government is understandably disarmed and unleashes a barrage of stream-of-consciousness thought that rampages throughout all manners of topics.
The arrival of cab driver Cyril – nonetheless blessed with The Knowledge although it strides galaxies now – affords, if not solutions, then the beginnings of a path in the direction of them. They’re within the Afterlife, which is one among many Afterlives, and as with a lot in our universe, corporatisation has crept in even to this new realm and as a headhunter waves the promise of an Executive Creative Director job title in entrance of her, there’s a severe pivot from the metaphysical to the macroeconomic.
Even over this restricted run-time, James Barlow’s manufacturing is opaque because it makes an attempt to arrange a lot concerning the wider world of The Liminal in addition to its personal difficult material. Perhaps additional chapters may profit from this context having already been set, proper now it looks like an excessive amount of is making an attempt to be achieved in too brief an area of time. Euan J Davies’ lighting design is magnificently conceived although, discovering moments of gorgeous lamplost-lit class among the many sci-fi dazzle – a terrific use of the black field area of the White Bear.