My overall impression
I had heard alot about this production, and I was bound and determined to catch it. I eventually found a way to take some time off work and catch an afternoon matinee. Believe me, it was worth the effort.
Up to this point, I had not had the privilege of seeing any shows with an international cast. However, the last Welsh performance I saw, Rhodri Miles’ electrifying Burton, gave me hope that this production would be great – I was not disappointed.
I had never bought into the concept of coincidence, but this play made me take an entirely different look at the subject.
The play concerns two individuals with the same name, Richard Parker, who meet on a ship crossing between England and France. The first Richard Parker has learned of the past circumstances where his namesake has been involved in a sinking ship and then killed and eaten to ensure the safety of the remaining survivors. Determined to change what he considers as his destiny, he chooses to be the aggressor and change his future.
The cast was superb. The fact that they were Welsh and possessed the requisite natural accent just made the story that much more believable. I also enjoyed the recitations of the “coincidences” between the life and death of Kennedy and Lincoln.
This show is a MUST SEE, and very worthy of further performances during the “Best of the Fringe” extension.