End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland review
Barbican theatre, LondonWith a dual narrative set in Tokyo and a world of dreams, Philippe Decouflé’s epic production is as bewitching as its balletic unicorns
TL;DR
- The production adapts Haruki Murakami's dual-narrative novel, set in Tokyo and a dream world.
- Two versions of the protagonist, Watashi, exist: one in Tokyo and one in a dream realm.
- The dream world includes elements like sundering humans from shadows, a walled city, and a professor who collects skulls.
- The story involves Watashi seeking to reunite with his shadow and a romance with a librarian.
- Visuals include projections, agile dancing inspired by anime, and creatures like 'murks' and unicorns.
- The choreography by Decouflé is noted for its grace and athleticism.
- The second half clarifies the 'confusion' as reflecting Watashi's mental state, exploring themes of loneliness, grief, and fear of death.
- The narrative has socio-political echoes, touching on themes relevant to contemporary society, AI, and manufactured subjectivity.
- The production is nearly three hours long and leaves a lasting impression of a collective dream.