Under Ice

Falk Richter’s raging howl against the pressures of late capitalism is given a furiously abrasive production at Summerhall by Arturo Areimos teatras, Oskaro Koršunovo teatras and Aurora Nova.

On a stage littered with empty bottles, three men shout through a series of distorted microphones in front of a backdrop of flickering monitors screening a collage of political speeches, stock Americana footage and terrorist attacks.

Richter’s script begins with a man who chooses, in a futile moment of rebellion, to reject efficiency and be late for his flight. What follows is a full-scale breakdown as he looks back at childhood traumas, adult failures and successes, and descends into an increasingly absurdist, apocalyptic fantasy. Corporate efficiency jargon is smashed together with armageddon-like imagery whilst Paul slumps in an armchair like a dying man.

It often feels like this production has overloaded the text rather than letting it speak for itself; the character of Paul is drowned out—presumably very deliberately—but to the point that it’s difficult to care too much about what he’s saying. It’s pretty much a solid scream, underscored by industrial noise, for the full hour – and I’m not entirely sure what we’re supposed to make of the gold swastika thong that we have pelvically-thrusted at us by one of the performers, before he moves on to violently hump a table for 10 minutes.

A stylish but crowded production that’s brilliant at inspiring anger, exhaustion and alienation – but often, unfortunately, towards the show itself.