Anthony Burgess ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Fourth Monkey Theatre Company – theSpaces on the Mile

**** (4 stars)

Sexual violence and verbal eloquence go hand in hand in the Fourth Monkey Theatre Company’s production of modern classic: A Clockwork Orange. The company gave a frantic and energetic performance that had the audience looking from side to side as though it were a tennis match. This sell out performance used an all female cast, thereby offering another level to the controversial tale, in which the main character rapes and murders innocent passersby with boyish glee, helped by his fellow ‘droogs’.

The story follows Alex’s journey from murderous gang leader to reformed citizen and back to Beethoven worshiping brute in a play that challenges the government’s control over prison reform programmes and the individual’s freedom of choice. Those who are familiar with Kubrick’s film will recognise some keys scenes translated to the stage. There was however, a clear attempt at originality that mostly manifested itself in an attempt to modernise the tale by using wacky costumes and the occasional solo song from the one of the cast. Despite some out-of-place musical outbursts, the modern slant on a tale already set in the future does work well in depicting A Clockwork Orange as timeless.

Passion oozes from every one of the twenty plus cast. The play may not have quite as much impact as the scenes of the original film but it does incredibly well in toying with the audience’s imagination during Alex’s brainwashing, as well as during the violent events. This was a memorable production that does Kubrick’s film justice and brings a youthful, fresh take to it whilst maintaining the vital, moral message.

Laura Jones