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This is the first time this show has been performed to a paying public audience. The main plot is not shown very clear but you can still get the main idea of what is going on. The characters speaking in Russian throughout was not helpful to an English audience but the main character did speak a little English, this portrayed his character as being an outsider both in nationality and socially.
The plot as I interpreted it was that one day a man realizes that his overcoat has become worn out. He takes it to the tailor to be mended but is told that it "is dead" and that he will have to have a new one made. The unnamed man undergoes extreme deprivation in order to save money for a new overcoat. In the process, the coat begins to take a central role in his life and he begins to view the garment as the key to his future happiness. Soon he dies and his ghost comes back to steal other people’s overcoats.
The sudden change from reality to a dream world was not always clear so you were left wondering whether or not it was real. When it was in the dream world however, there were some very good effects to show the unnamed man swimming through mid-air.
The set was very big and changed quite a lot, which was a nice contrast and it all flowed very nicely and seamlessly, however the main piece was too large and to some areas of the audience, it could not be seen. Also some entertaining parts, for example tap-dancing which was done extremely well and boasted a professional look. Also a man doing a slapstick Jim Carey-style gobbledygook routine to another character was amusing.
The lighting wasn’t the best it could be, as in some parts it was too dim and facial expressions were hard to see. The large amount of sound and music used though did make up for this. It had quite a mix of music and songs ranging from Spanish music to Frank Sinatra.
Overall, it was an entertaining show if a little hard to follow. The run time was about 90 minutes but could easily be cut down to 60 minutes if no parts were repeated. If you don’t mind sitting through very repetitive things though, then this show is for you.
Sam Hume
Sudbury Upper School
13 November 2008
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