The Lobster

There’s not usually much on at the theatre at the beginning of the year, as they close for the Christmas and New Year break, and then re-open with a rerun of the Christmas panto. However, BATS are putting stuff on, and one of those is The Lobster – a stage adaptation of the film starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and Olivia Colman. I’ve seen the film, and it’s weird, so we were forewarned about what to expect.

But what’s theatre without dinner first? A new restaurant has opened on a perennial site – formerly Ambeli, Slim Davey’s, Amok, now Rosella...and that’s just since we moved here! They claim to take influences from across the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Middle East. Sounds good!

Their menu is the smaller plates/sharing type that seems to have been all the rage for the last few years, but we decided on a more conventional starter & main course approach: oysters and chicken liver parfait, followed by butterfish and squid ink pasta. We had time and the inclination for dessert, and chose the grapefruit & Campari sorbet, and sumac-roasted strawberries. All delicious, and we’ll be back, hopefully for a longer service, as they have an option called “Just feed me!” where you hand control over to the chef, and accept what comes.

BATS Theatre is just round the corner, so we toddled off and went up to The Dome. This had been kitted out with minimal décor, a couple of chairs, a bed and a table, which were moved around by the cast, as required.

The plot of The Lobster revolves around David, who has been sent to The Hotel because his wife has left him for another man. In this dystopian future, being single or a “loner” is not permitted, and he has 45 days in which to form a relationship with another loner at the hotel, or face being turned into an animal of his choice. David’s preferred animal is a lobster. We meet a selection of the other loners, who are almost universally weirdos and misfits. There are strict rules at The Hotel, and many activities in which participation is obligatory.

The play follows the story of the first half of the film, so far as I remember it, but stops abruptly at that point. The second half of the film, where (spoiler alert) David escapes, is not covered…probably because of the logistics and scene changes that would be required to take it outside of The Hotel. Nevertheless, it was suitably weird, and blackly humorous, much like the original.