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A Disappearing Number
Conceived and Directed by Simon McBurney
Devised by Complicite
Barbican Theatre
Design by Michael Levine
Music by Nitin Sawhney
Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Call +44 (0) 845 120 7511 Tickets £10 - £35.00
Running time 2 hours 10 mins with no intermission
Through October 2007
It’s Rocket Science
There is a narrative to this story, and it is described in the flyer as ‘one of the most mysterious and romantic collaborations of all time’. It clearly mattered to Simon McBurney, and it certainly gave the company material to work with. But when you are watching Complicite there is a such a sense of being treated to a teasing theatrical brilliance, with thrilling visual parallels of life, with every tantalising moment in the theatre being one of adventure, that the actual story doesn’t matter. Nevertheless, this was a rich feast flowing from the delirium of the addicts of the mathematical wonders that entrance them. Any detailed description of the plot is not necessary. It is for you to discover and wonder at.
If possible try to catch this dazzling company. Although the Barbican is a superb theatrical space, it is quite the worst run venue in my experience. After trying to find the theatre down a long and dangerous tunnel in the first place, to the ridiculous or non existent signage, there is the irritatingly long wait for bad coffee, the hunt for the restroom etc, etc, etc. Accept this as an example of how badly Britain used to be run, and it seems, how badly it still can be.
If you’re lucky you might find the extraordinary Complicite at the National Theatre or some other venue, where they have performed in the past, and where the lowly customer is considered to be of some importance, with the venue designed and run for their enjoyment.
(Otherwise) not to be missed
Saul Reichlin
London correspondent
Talk Theatre in Chicago Podcast
www.ChicagoCritic.com
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