Greg Hicks gives a solo performance in Fyodir Dostoyevskey’s the Russian playwrights play The Dream of a Ridiculous Man. The piece first appeared in 1877 in the publication The Diary of a Writer. Laurence Boswell has adapted and written this staged version to bring it to a new audience.

Themes of alcoholism,  despair, suicide and failure in life are strong themes throughout the play. Although we are almost 150 years on from the original publication these issues and themes are still prevalent in society today and the frailty of the human mind where self-doubt can take over your thoughts and send you into a downward negative spiral is echoed in Dostoyevskey’s words.

Some of the additional minor roles performed by Hicks offer an insight into how the “man” interacts with people around him and his neighbours. The range of accents used changes the tempo and direction temporarily of the performance, which is necessary to keep the audience engaged with the storyline.

Hicks frequently repeats part of the man’s story which feels monotone at times and self-indulgent. However, if the man is staggering between drunkenness and moments of clarity it’s the pattern of behaviour you would expect to encounter. Hick’s portrayal as the “ridiculous man” offers a tragically sad believable performance. It is not uplifting but I dare say it can be relatable to some people, although I can’t particularly relate to the “man” as I don’t see the world through that lens.

For more information on this play and future productions at The Marylebone Theatre please click on the link below.

Three Stars.

https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/

Synopsis of original piece by Dostoyevskey.

A short story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky written in 1877. It begins with a man walking St. Petersburg’s streets while musing upon how ridiculous his life is, as well as its distinct lack of meaning or purpose. This train of thought leads him to the idea of suicide, which he resolves to commit using a previously-acquired gun. However, a chance encounter with a distressed little girl in the street derails his drastic plans.