Metamorphosis Review

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Last night, Edward Weston became a cockroach in an eerie ballet interpretation performance of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis at the Joyce Theater. The stage design by Simon Daw created a space for the audience to engage with all characters: Gregor to the left and the Samsas to the right. And we were able to witness Gregor’s metamorphosis into a cockroach from the Samsas’ screams, horrific bug noises, and dialogue which didn’t once allow the audience to forget that he was no longer human. Weston did a wonderful job in his role as a human turned cockroach that choreographer/director Arthur Pita made possible through an excellent choice of dream sequences that involved a mysterious back substance. By the end of the night, I enjoyed the performance and the experience of my first ballet dance.

Metamorphosis Review

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Last night The Royal Ballet performed a dance adaptation of The Metamorphosis at the Joyce Theater in NYC. This adaptation was derived from the view of director, Arthur Pita, and conveyed through the body of principal dancer, Edward Watson. Unfortunately, to me, the show was not particular moving in any way. Overall, I would have to describe my attitude towards the performance as indifferent.

Metamorphosis Ballet Review

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                    The Metamorphosis, playing at the Joyce Theatre, was an innovating and riveting interpretation of the famous story written by Franz Kafka. In the performance, boring and lifeless Gregor Samsa, portrayed by Edward Watson, transforms into a cockroach forcing him to deal with the turmoil of a bug’s life, destroying his family along the way. The performance was a unique portrayal of the story with small similarities to the precise details of the book. Similarly, the characters I once hated drew me in while others caused different and new feelings. Overall, I thought the play was an interesting attempt to put the viewers into the mind of a man-turned cockroach without using words and Arthur Pita and Frank Moon succeeded in doing so.

Metamorphosis Review

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The Royal Ballet’s decision to strive away from a classical piece worked brilliantly in Arthur Pitas interpretation of Franz Kafka’s novella “Metamorphosis”. The production was created for the Royal Ballet’s principal dancer Edward Weston, whose extensions and contortion-like movements seemed to reach all ends of the Joyce Theater. I was impressed by his ability to replicate a bug so concretely and as a choreographer, Pita successfully pushed Weston’s limit. The relationships between the characters are well portrayed in the partnering scenes, and the stage setting further complimented the effect. In addition, each performer’s personality was clear and distinct, increasing the quality of the performance. Although I wish more of the dancing was highlighted rather than the acting, I enjoyed the performance nonetheless. 

Metamorphosis Ballet Review

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Strange. Intense. Right up until the final moment of the performance Metamorphosis the audience, me included, were on the edge of our seats. Gregor, played expertly by Edward Weston, is shown as a businessman in a tedious repetitive lifestyle, and his transformation into a bug can be seen in black goo that he gets covered in.  The entire event was strange, uncomfortable, but a perfect representation of the book Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. While the performance was extremely well done, it had an interesting point of view on the novel. In the novel, we find our point of view and center of the universe is Gregor and his internal conflict, with the family problems playing as background noise; while in this showing quite the opposite is true. You see and feel for the family and find yourself with utter contempt for Gregor.

Metamorphosis Ballet Review

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If you’re looking for an unconventional ballet where your mind will be constantly working, look no further. Metamorphosis is currently being performed at the Joyce Theater, this play focuses on the life of Gregor, a young man who finds himself become a cockroach one morning. The performance is bursting with intense scenes of music, and noise, along with contrasting quieter scenes with less excitement. To be completely honest, I dozed off slightly during one of these quieter scenes due to the soothing violin of Frank Moon combined with the dimly lit room; this is not, however it seems, to say that the ballet is disengaging or boring. My overall view is that the performance by Edward Weston accurately portrayed the struggles of Franz Kafka’s original protagonist.