Rhinoceros
by Eugene Ionesco.

Wed 26th –Sat 29th at The Oxford Playhouse

Ionesco’s Rhinoceros…..OK, there’s this bloke who turns into a rhinoceros. Then everybody else does. And that leaves one lonely person wondering whether maintaining his island of humanity is preferable to becoming a rhinoceros. And that’s the theatre of the absurd for you, of which Mr. Ionesco was a master. He defined absurd as “that which is devoid of purpose” where “man is lost; all his actions become senseless, absurd, useless”, so writing about rhinoceri probably seemed the next appropriate step. But, add in excruciating clichés, a general tease of language and a real dilemma faced by a confused minority then you have a finely tuned logical ludicrousness.
Written, apparently, as an allegory of fascism in 1959, this play creates an alternative reality in which humans stumble around in an exploding world of beasts. Almost like a substance abused Jurassic Park.
The preview was a rough version of the real thing, yet it was still pretty striking. Add music (original – composed by Theo Holloway), lights, costume and props and it promises to be an amusing night, if you’re attracted by anything even vaguely unusual, or just fancy learning about Asiatic and African rhinos. The cast are young but talented, and play up to the ludicrous subject just enough, under the direction of Delphine Schrank . Keep an eye out for the lovely, misguided Berenger (Sam Crane) and the dappy Daisy (Rosamund Pike – been on TV, you know!).
Is the celebration and delirious optimism of the new millennium waning slightly? Is the thought of another term of bleak January evenings and studying leaving you slightly cold? Then roll up to see the Rhinoceros and laugh all the worries of our blinkered world away. And then you can return to the even more absurd world of essays.

Angharad Rudkin