The Trial by Stephen Berkoff
Tabard Theatre, July 1999

The Trial is Berkoff's adaptation of Kafka's tale of Joseph K, who wakes on the morning of his 30th birthday and finds himself arrested for an unspecified crime. This is a compelling and intriguing tale that bears a feeling of 1984 and has lent itself to more recent works of fiction such as Brazil where bureaucracy and the society it breeds bears down on the individual, wearing them down and possibly destroying them.

Normally I detest Berkoff and his over/hyper dramatic style where anything less thn a rant is a whisper but I have to admit I did enjoy Tessa Walker & Nadine Hoare's direction of this piece despite it bearing all the hallmarks of a Berkoff play. Certainly the first act zipped by with its creative chorus pieces and tableaux, drawing on elements of Noh, whilst supporting a solid performance from Terry Samaris as the suppressed Joseph K.

The ultra minimalist set consisted of four metal door frames which could easily be moved and morphed into the many corridors and rooms in which Joseph K would find himself, in the vain attempt to prove himself innocent of the ambiguous crime which may have been the simple act of his existence. The exposing of the back of the Tabard studio was also excellently conceived by Jasmin MacNabb and her team. This really was team effort where the chorus would create situations and characters from out of thin air and then disperse as quickly and as seamlessly as they had appeared; all hightened using an almost film noir sense of lighting.

Humour and sexuality combined well in highlighting the corruption that lurks within the gears that drive the state. Romany Smith in her guise as Leni was as tempting to the male members of the audience as she was to Jospeh K, Francis Redmond's Laundress did likewise and Whipper (Nicole Smith) can punish me in that fashion any time she wishes. One cold shower later and it's hats off to the rest of the ensemble of Alex Hall and Simon Davis who combined well as a double act when portraying the buffooning guards as well as giving excellent solo performances in their respectives role as Titorelli and Student.

Mark Mayhem was very Berlinesque in all his roles especially the sleazy Bank Manager. Cheri Rancourt as Miss Burstner, Alex Cohen as Mrs Grubach and Lucy Ambler as Block all gave solid performances whilst Alex Gordon - Wood's leacherous and stuffy Judge frustrated Jospeh's attempts at liberty superbly.

Any complaints to be had would be a drop in pace in the 2nd act but it was a matinee performance on another scorching Saturday afternoon and, though this is the writing (and perhaps my stupidity), I have no idea as to what actually happened in the end; though I've been assured by someone who has read the book that neither do they.

All in all another successful performance that rounded off the KDC's summer season showing a diversity of talent and skill. Good luck next season!