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The Island of Dr. Moreau
By H.G. Wells
Adapted for the stage by Robert Kauzlaric
Directed by Paul S. Holmquist
At Lifeline Theatre
6912 N. Glenwood Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-761-4477, tickets $25 $20 for seniors $15 for students
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 4 pm
Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission
Through December 2, 2007
Strong production values launch The Island of Dr. Moreau
Lifeline Theatre celebrates their 25th Season with the superb adaptation of H.G. Wells’ early science fiction novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau. The production values of this show rival any that you’d see anywhere. With excellent sets (design by Tom Burch) ripe with sails and a tropical hut, together with fabulous lighting (Kevin D. Gawley) and sound from Victoria Delorio (including original music), the eerie atmosphere of the isolated island is established. But, by far, the most impressive visuals belong to the 11 man-beasts designed by Kimberly G. Morris. These amazing furry characters amazingly depict the product of crude eugenics—the science of modifying hereditary here practiced painful surgeries by the demented Dr. Moreau (Nigel Patterson).
Told in flashback, we meet Prendick (Phil Timberlake), a gentle ship wrecked botanist, who finds himself rescued by a ship carrying Montgomery, the doctor’s assistant (the terrific Yosh Hayashi) and his man-beast-servant M’ling (Sean Sullivan). The captain and crew resent M’ling due to his size and his more animal than man persona. Prendick is forced to leave the ship at Dr. Moreau’s island. Being marooned on a terrifying island among all the terrible screaming and the wide assortment of man-beasts has Prendick petrified.
Montgomery and Dr. Moreau are reluctant to explain the man-beasts and all the screeching and screaming. Montgomery drugs Prendick in an attempt to slowly acclimate Prendick to his new environment. Prendick is confined to his small hut. The screams force him to escape his hut and explore the island. He meets an assortment of man-beasts who talks but who have limited mental capacity. These scenes are marvelously played by the ensemble each of which take on their animals characteristics.
Prendick’s horror is complete when he witneses Dr. Moreau butchering a puma. Moreau explains that he is only trying to lift the animals up in the evolution chain. The metaphor for Victorian England’s colonial policy in Africa and India. Moreau uses physical torture while the English use occupation and military to lift the natives up to a higher plane.
Robert Kauzlaric’s crisp script, under Paul S. Holmquist’s swift and tight direction, contains much physicality, fast action in a thrillingly mysterious tale of horror. This is a suspenseful 90 minute one act that builds high tension and scares us throughout. Wells’ novel is both a cautionary tale of evolution and a political commentary of colonialism.
The deep psychological effects of Prendick’s adventure are nicely played by Phil Timberlake. Nigel Patterson is chilling as the weird, amoral Moreau. Sean Sullivan as M’ling is the bear, oz and dog man-beast loyal to Montgomery. Sullivan is quite empathetic. Nice work here, Yosh Hayashi is a major character actor talent capable of using a combination of humor and pathos as makes Montgomery a memorable character. This is a violent show that aptly shows the beasts becoming like men as the men acting more like violent beasts. The line between man and beast sure gets blurred in this intriguing tale.
The Island of Dr. Moreau is grand theatre that brings to life a haunting mystery novel filled with strange furry characters and mad scientists. The suspenseful action is furious and physically. It is effective on Lifeline Theatre’s modest stage. The technical merits add much to the production. Don’t miss this gem.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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