Grasses of a Thousand Colours

Synopsis

"Cats like to tease mice. In other words, I'm saying, it's not something that happens by accident when they're pursuing some other more respectable purpose. No. They like to do it." The scientist who tinkered with the universe tells us of his many loves. As his self-obsession literally consumes him, we listen to tales of food, sex and man's true best friend. An extreme, disturbing, and funny vision of the embattled relationship between man and beast.

Our Review:

19 May 2009

In the premiere of his own play, which has been some ten years in the on-off writing, Wallace Shawn plays a memoirist, Ben, also a scientist and a businessman, who starts out at a lectern in black silk pyjamas and rather rococo black dressing gown, alongside a long cream sofa.

The set, and the outfit, are the same over three hours later, during which time Shawn, as if in a waking dream, recounts his sexual obsessions, mostly with his own genitalia, but also involving three women, his visit to an animal orgy in a castle in the forest, and a white furry cat called Blanche.

Poor old Blanche, who is often caught with her face in human posteriors, is then translated into the feline visage of Miranda Richardson as Ben’s wife, Cerise, and curls up with him in this new cat woman form in a sunlit meadow of buttercups, Ben’s “ancient penis” stirring once more, Ben still chattering and wrapped in his dressing gown.

The narrative progression of th...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

Wes - 20 May 2009:

Wow, you Brits will plunk down money to see such crap?!! There must be more interesting things to do with your time. ...

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Review Round-up: Did Shawn Get Flying Colours? More»