A World Full of Married Men recap – Jackie Collins’ bonkbuster as the ugliest puppet show | Theater

Did someone says Jackie CollinsThe doyenne of publishing and social media watcher? Amazing! And the adaptation of his first book, which showed his interest, and his ability, to draw a drama of love and sex in the boundaries of the parents, and settled in the world of business (not in the Hollywood Hills but in the green industry of 60s Hampstead)? Great!

But they played small, a series of lighted dollhouses, and mostly modified Barbie dolls. What? Who dreamed this? The oldest Swedish experimental company, Malmö Dockteater, is “big” is an understatement. Under the direction of Erik Holmström, who is also a puppet designer, the puppets come with hidden hair, big knots and breathing difficulties around them. Between the story of marriage in a difficult place, infidelity and the desire of women in the era of the directors of predatory films and brutal stickers (all of which were made decades before Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo), there are resources for watering the genitals, fellatio, cunnilingus, fast and straight. This is a toy with balls in many ways more than one, resulting in a large audience of modern West End puppets Avenue Q looks like The Muppet Christmas Carol.

All of that is normal to be written in Swedish and translated by Lulu Raczka back to English. His two dolls, Erik Olsson and Kajsa Ericsson, followed by the videographer Josefin Beischer, whose mobile camera transmits the scene on the big screen. They speak for all the characters, but they participate in certain parts of the story, dressed as giant puppets. What is real fire?

And yet it works. More than work. Collins’ bold, sensual and well-known story. The small light boxes, designed by Maja Kall, have a long history, from 1960s paintings to elaborately designed drinks cabinets, shag pads for hotel rooms and nightclubs. The results are very noticeable, especially during sex. The juxtaposition of the puppets with the actors brings out the relief of all his humor, and also gives the puppets more personality, in a way. It is a fun, exciting and imaginative production.

The story deals with the politics of long marriage: Linda is a 1960s woman living in the 50s of homelessness, boredom and longing (think. Mad Men’s Betty Draper). David and her loving husband are engaged to aspiring actress and model Claudia. There is no sign of Collins’ amazing creation Lucky Santangelo however, but women here still kick-ass and come out on top (David’s sexist author is interesting). Collins was writing in the era of John Updike and an examination of his literary knowledge comes up with interesting words for him. Rabbit, Run a long marriage listto those who thought she was the bonkbuster queen. Despite the nervous laughter this story inspires, there are many universal truths about gender relations and inequality that still resonate today.

One of the best shows of the year so far, all the better for its left-field surprises. It provides an example of re-posting all of Collins’ articles in this way. At another stop, The World is Full of Divorced Women? Bring it on!