Review: Caligari

ChewBoy’s production of Caligari is a contemporary adaptation of Robert Wiene’s 1920 film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The young company, winner of the Untapped Award, re-invent the narrative focusing heavily on actor-musicianship and tight-knit harmonies to bring Dr Caligari’s victims into the spotlight.

The talented cast of five features Jimmy Chambers as Alan, Rosa Lukacs as Alan’s lover, Ellen Pallant as Rose, Harry Curley as Caligari and Hal Darling as the creature. The nods to the Brechtian alienation are greatly entertaining as each cast member enjoys breaking the action to squabble about the outcome of the story they are telling and who should play who. This surreal jarring of the narrative is particularly impressive from Curley, who connects closely with the reality in what seems an unrealistic situation. 

The level of musicianship across the board keeps this story alive. Chambers’ nerve holds despite a snapped guitar string mid-strum, yet they keep the audience engaged with the discordant harmonies to follow. The consistent ensemble is a highlight of the show as each supports the next and at times seem to perform as one bow upon a single set of strings. Pallant’s final attempt at adhering to the rehearsed storyline almost matches the quality of the adequately discomforting harmonies that fill this piece with great potential.