by Laura Kressly

The South African companies Handspring Puppet Company and the Baxter Theatre have a world-renown reputation for puppetry and theatre, respectively. In this adaptation of the JM Coetzee novel, the puppetry is as good as anticipated, but the two hour-long, rambling story pushes the limits of audience patience and dulls the effect of the show’s message.

Set in a fictional civil war during Apartheid, Michael K works as gardener in Cape Town and cares for his ageing and unwell mother. Because of society’s ableism and fear of difference, Michael is constantly othered for having a cleft lip. His duty to his mum and his facial difference significantly shape the events in the story, from trying to escape the city, going to the farm where his mum lived as a child, and being on the run from various parties who wish to do him harm.

Michael is almost always on the move. Though there’s a sense that long periods of time pass between some of the events that occur – like when he’s living on the abandoned farm, and later in a labour camp – this adaptation doesn’t allow him to stay still. The plotting is relentless and repetitive as Michael endures one awful thing after another. Whilst it’s clear that the production is making a point about wars’ lengths and seemingly unending violence, shaving 45 minutes from the story would still make the same point. As is, the unrelenting bleakness is wearing and quickly loses its effect. There’s also absolutely no need for a Fringe show to be this long, and there’s minimal pay-off at the end.

The cast, design and puppetry is, of course, excellent. Humans and puppets make up a mixed cast who take on the many characters that Michael meets on his journey. Video projected on the crumbling set provides gravitas and close-ups of the puppets’ expressive faces. If the story was more tightly constructed, it would be at the same level as the other production elements and make this a really great production.

JM Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K runs through 27 August.

The Play’s the Thing UK is committed to covering fringe and progressive theatre in London and beyond. It is run entirely voluntarily and needs regular support to ensure its survival. For more information and to help The Play’s the Thing UK provide coverage of the theatre that needs reviews the most, visit its patreon.