There are 12 different chapters to Legend for Witkacy. Time and space play a major role in the physical theatre performance where spoken word, monologues and physical theatre all come into play to bring the 12 chapters to life. Legend for Witkacy covers themes of work, family, love and death and is presented in a distinct and unique style. It is inspired by Polish writer Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz and an interpretation of his ideas on space, time and energy.
Three performers take to the stage to present the performance. Ann Lopez plays Melissa, Stephen Moore is James and Rick Curtiss is Andrew. The show is a three hander where the performers react and interact with one another. Sometimes the performers move in a slow and pensive style. It appears as if they are underwater and their limbs are struggling to move freely. Meanwhile they continue to talk to one another as if having an everyday conversation. The interaction continues and the movement emphasises the topics within the language. This is heightened when the physical actions and spoken conversation speeds up and we witness jittery and expressive body shapes. The performance is very text heavy and the physical theatre very evocative. Sometimes it feels as if only one of these elements should be utilised. When the dialogue is fully expressing frustration, there is no need to see the performers move in a such a frustrated and exaggerated manner.
Eventually the performance ascends beyond traditional physical theatre and introduces puppetry to the stage. One puppet represents an astronaut and the other a caveman. The future and the past come together in a comedic, but very fleeting scene. The show ends with a segment titled Heaven. This section brings the performance to an end, where the audience have gone on an obscure, confusing and strange journey, however it is the abstract nature of Legend for Witkacy that makes it an enjoyable show to witness.
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