Out At Sea By Sławomir Mrożek

When you're lost in the ocean,

“Who are you having for lunch today?” If you were stuck on a raft with no food and two strangers for company how would you survive being devoured by your companions? What is the proper way to decide whose rump and sirloin finds its way to the dinner table? Cannibalism has never been so democratic.

Out At Sea was written in 1960’s censorship ridden Poland. Satirist Sławomir Mrożek was forced to find many unusual angles with which to carry his biting comments against the Soviet regime. One of his regular techniques was to write absurd comedic plays that carried a dark message beneath the laughter. Perhaps his finest one-act effort is the little known, Out At Sea. Written in 1962 (and translated by Nicholas Bethell in 1969) this single-set black comedy traces the fortunes of three very different castaways who attempt to find a democratic way of deciding which of them shall be eaten by the other two. The arguments become steadily more outlandish, the bullying and sycophancy more intense, until the intervention of a passing postman and an old manservant take the play into a hilarious surreal overdrive, building to a chilling climax.

Out At Sea was presented by Iron Lion (the predecessor to Flying Pickle) twice, in 2006 and 2013. Both productions were well received by critics, particularly the 2013 version which was part of the 2013 Camden Fringe.

Broadway Baby review of Out At Sea by Adam Moulder

“I am hungry!” declares Fat, shortly after the play begins…Being hungry, is the driving force behind Out at Sea, as three men are stranded in the middle of ocean, and their last lot of supplies, a tin of baked beans, has run out. What follows, which is agreed as the logical next step by the three men, is to choose which of them should then be eaten by the other two.

What follows is an amusing, touching and thought-provoking satirical piece centring on manipulation, desperation and cunning. Written by Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek in 1961, and translated by Nicholas Bethell in 1967, the play has deservedly stood the test of time.

The production, taken on by the theatre company Iron Lion, was very strong. The company have performed the play before on the UK Fringe scene and have reprised the piece at this year’s Camden Fringe.

The acting of all the members of the group was very good, with special mentions to Sam Devereaux and Karl Sedgwick. Devereaux commanded the stage with real presence and excellent comic timing, allowing many subtle nuances of performance into a very entertaining character.

Sedgwick, (think Nicholas Lyndhurst meets Griff Rhys Jones), was also excellently comedic whilst contrasting this nicely with moments of real pathos and meaning. The pair were ably supported by Mat Ruttle and Jon Palmer, with the latter particularly amusing in his comedy cameos.

An obviously highly talented group of performers makes this theatre company an exciting prospect for the future.

Friday, August 2, 2013 – Full review available here.