A THOUGHT-PROVOKING LOVE STORY WITH DARKER ISSUES
Zena Hawley
Derby Evening Telegraph
November 7, 2007 Wednesday
This production of Beast on the Moon was given the nod of approval
by no less a person than its writer last night.
American playwright Richard Kalinoski, along with most of the
audience, appeared to thoroughly enjoy this intriguing look at a
couple’s relationship.
Set against the dispersal and genocide of Armenians by the Turks in the
early 20th century, the story follows the fortunes of Seta and Aram.
We first meet the couple when Aram takes Seta to his home in the USA
as a child bride of 15.
The strong feeling of family continuation is a major theme in the
play and, as it becomes increasingly obvious that the couple will
bear no children, the tensions grow.
In a style reminiscent of Harold Pinter, the couple, played beautifully
by Karine Bedrossian and Youssef Kerkour, command the stage throughout.
The long pauses and inaction serve to heighten the tension that
gradually mounts throughout the first half.
This starts to break when a young boy, Vincent, played by adult Paul
Greenwood for reasons that become obvious, enters their lives.
Despite Aram’s reluctance to acknowledge his presence, the boy
acts as a catalyst that helps bring the play to a conclusion and an
acknowledgement of the truth by Aram.
Aram wants to create the picture-perfect family – in line with his
job as a photographer – and symbolically he has cut the heads of
members of his family in an old photograph.
He wants to replace these with his own family but life is never
that easy.
Kalinoski, who has won several prizes for the play, written more than
10 years ago, has created wonderfully life-like characters that you
really care about.
Karine Bedrossian’s portrayal of Seta is delightful, comic at times,
and also very moving.
Aram’s bluff old-style ways appear as a complete antithesis of her,
but in the final analysis are they so very far apart?
Speaking before the performance, Kalinoski said that he wanted the
audience to appreciate the compromise in this relationship, and
perhaps others in the process.
Certainly this worked and although the Beast on the Moon can be
classed as a love story, it also contains much darker issues.
It is a thought-provoking piece that has much to say and even more
on which to ponder long after the final curtain.