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    There is little doubt Kafka was a fine writer. Time has certainly been testament to this. You can see his work transferred to stage and screen all over the world. But I couldn’t help but feel this particular piece lost a little in translation. The script seemed to me to be clunky and over wordy. I know this may be viewed as sacrilege in many eyes but I can’t help having an opinion. The sole actor, it was a one man show, did his best to imbue the source material with life and was largely successful. If a touch over the top in places.

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    The story was as interesting and thought provoking as you’d expect from Kafka with the familiar subjects of what it means to be human, anthropomorphism and body dis-morphia all covered. Eminently visualised by the actor slowly shedding off his animal skin to become human. The naked ape. With a typically dark twist at the end. There were also moments of humour, twisted as they were, to lighten the heavy philosophical load. But all in all I believe this piece would have perhaps gone down better fifty or a hundred years ago when the text was a tad more vital. Not to say that these subjects aren’t eternal but I believe there have been more recent plays and films which have breached them more relevantly. Still, if you’re a fan of Kafka and guys in gorilla suits this may be the play for you. Personally I’ll stick with King Kong. THREE STARS

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