Solaris, Malthouse, July 3 2019 ****

THEATRE 

Solaris by David Greig, adapted from Stanislaw Lem’s novel, 
By Malthouse Theatre 

At Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse, until July 21, 2019 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars: ****

Leeanna Walsman & Keegan Joyce_photoPiaJohnson

In space someone can hear us dream, or so it seems on the watery planet Solaris where the memories and dreams of humans have a life of their own.

 

Matthew Lutton and an accomplished cast deliver a compelling, thought-provoking interpretation of David Greig’s play, Solaris, adapted from Stanislaw Lem’s 1961 novel. (Yes, there were also movies by Tarkovsky and Soderbergh.)

When Dr. Kris Kelvin (Leeanna Walsman) arrives at the space station orbiting Solaris, she encounters two agitated, secretive scientific researchers, Dr. Sartorius (Jade Ogugua) and Dr. Snow (Fode Simbo), who have lost communication with earth.

Solaris is a seething, oceanic planet that seems to have its own consciousness that seeks to communicate with the humans, and Kelvin, like her colleagues, starts to experience strange visitations of a person from her past. Is this mysterious entity benign or predatory?

Kelvin slowly immerses herself in a relationship with Ray (Keegan Joyce) on the pretext of researching this physical manifestation of her dreams, but Sartorius vigorously argues for scientific rationality, treating Ray as a mere specimen to be studied.

Greig's masterly script is a gripping, sc-fi thriller that explores human nature and our need for contact, communication and togetherness while paradoxically craving separateness and solitude.

The entire cast is credible in this ‘other world’: Walsman’s Kelvin evolves from a logical scientist into a romantic escapee from her real world, while Joyce is affecting as her lovelorn, partially formed and confused dream lover.

Ogugua brings a brittle quality to Sartorius that masks her inner pain and loss, while Simbo is both charismatic and delightfully funny as Snow.

Appearing only on video, Hugo Weaving gives a consummate and intimate performance as the late Dr. Gibarian.

Solaris is poignant, absorbing and guaranteed to draw you into its atmospheric, gravitational pull.

by Kate Herbert 

Cast:

Leeanna Walsman as Dr Kris Kelvin

 Keegan Joyce as Ray

Jade Ogugua as Sartorius

Fode Simbo as Snow

Hugo Weaving on screen as Gibarian

Fode Simbo and Leeanna Walsman_photoPiaJohnson