Written by Sergio Blanco and directed by the award-winning Daniel Goldman, “The Rage of Narcissus” is a 90 minute riveting journey of intrigue, suspense and drama played exquisitely by Sam Crane.
Blanco employs a kind of autofiction in this play that brings the viewer in to this darkness in a very believable way.
Sergio is in Ljubljana, Slovenia to give a lecture on Narcissus. Upon checking into his hotel in room 228, City River Hotel, he logs on to an app (grindr I suspect) to look for someone to have sex with. He meets Igor and they have sex. After Igor leaves, Sergio falls asleep to a national geographic programme about some near extinct species and he is asleep within five minutes.
A few hours later he spots a dark brown stain on the floor. Upon closer inspection, he sees that it’s a blood stain. Looking around, he discovers more and more blood stains all over the room. This both disgusts and intrigues him.
Initially he wishes to change rooms but then he begins to investigate. He finds himself getting drawn deeper and deeper into a dark gloomy world of desire, infatuation and murder. He decides this is perfect material for the new play he’s trying to write so he decides to stay in the room.
There are so many fascinating and disturbing twists and turns in the piece that will literally keep you enthralled and on the edge of your seat for the full 90 minutes.
The Rage of Narcissus is at The Pleasance Theatre from 18th Feb 2020 – 8th Mar 2020.