Moby Dick by Plexus Polaire, Barbican Theatre Review

Reviews

23 Jan

Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

Herman Melville’s tale of man versus whale has arrived at the Barbican in stormy style. This latest show as part of Mime London 2025 is sailing into the Barbican Theatre’s main stage thanks to French-Norwegian theatre company Plexus Polaire. Using an innovative blend of live music, video production, beautiful puppetry and powerful acting, we see the 175 year old tale of vengeance, obsession and the whaling industry in an engaging and riveting form.

The dark nature of this story is revealed from the outset with the stark staging of a ship’s deck outlined by whale bones in the shape of a ribcage and a haunting dirge sung by the dead. Skilfully directed by Yngvild Aspeli and with a human narrator for Ishmael, we see Captain Ahab’s ruthless pursuit of revenge upon Moby Dick unfurl in fully unhinged glory. This play at 85 minutes running time (no interval) also manages to make one of the most infamously dense books of modern literature an interesting, fabulous and engaging play. To the point where I was on the edge of my seat at some parts as I was so excited to see what would happen next. This herculean effort alone makes this play worth watching but it also profoundly portrays the themes of the novel with equal gravitas and flair, including the horrors of the whaling industry, the search for God and truth within our lives, along with the impact of obsession and just how far people will go to achieve their destructive wants when outside of the reach of societal expectations.

This play does not hold back when showcasing the gruesome nature of whaling, with a particularly harrowing event of a mother sperm whale being attacked and harvested by the crew whilst her calf chases her beheaded corpse into the depths, a sharp example of this famously brutal industry. This scene along with the wastage and disrespect of life brought tears to many of the audience and will certainly stay in my memory for a long time to come. If you had any doubts before you will certainly join first mate Starbuck in rooting for nature and the whale’s survival.

Much of this is achieved through remarkably inventive puppetry. Captain Ahab is shown with a variety of puppets, their features stark and unsettling as he stalks along the deck or literally duets with death in a ‘danse macabre’. This form emphasises the humanity he’s lost as much as it showcases the beauty and wonder of the whales this crew is hunting. Aside from Ismael the rest of the crew are also shown in puppet form and with much more humanity than you might expect. These puppets are utilised throughout the show in an almost cinematic way, both to showcase large scale scenes including the killing of whales or to inversely focus on microscopic fish darting in the deep as the crew rescues a man overboard. Whether creating an aerial or close up view, this medium invokes a sense of immersive and cinematic theatre in its best form and keeps your eyes visually satisfied and engaged throughout. The range of puppets are portrayed by a superb cast of seven including; Alice Chéné, Daniel Collados, Olmo Hidalgo, Scott Koehler, Maja Kunsic, Julian Spooner and Laëtitia Labre.

However within this show the remarkable tension is achieved with the brilliant trinity of amazing puppetry, innovative lighting direction and beautifully ethereal music. Musicians Guro Skumsnes Moe, Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen and Havard Skaset play the double bass, drums and guitar to create eerie soaring soundscapes of whale song and infinitely crashing waves along with singing beautiful wordless melodies at key moments of high tension. Lighting Designers Vincent Loubière and Xavier Lescat’s truly excellent efforts are a large reason for the eerie and disturbing atmosphere of the show. It in turn evokes the vastness and isolation of the sea as well as the cramped nature of below decks effortlessly. It also pinpoints the puppetry movement with virtuoso accuracy whilst letting the puppeteers and actors vanish from sight instantly, increasing the claustrophobic and ethereal nature of the play. Highlights also include the lighting and thunderstorms and invoking the constant swaying of the waves in a wholly immersive experience.

This is a truly unique theatrical experience and you will have a “whale of a time” experiencing it. If you enjoy beautiful puppetry and truly imaginative and engaging staging then this will be the highlight of your year. If you are interested in classic literature and understanding this story without wading into its dense prose, enjoy dark tales of obsession and vengeance or want to understand the history of the whaling industry (and leave firmly on the whale’s side) then this is the show for you.