Outside on the Street[author-post-rating] (3/5 Stars)

The affects of war are never fully known. To what extent can a solider returning from long periods of war-time activity integrate back into society and the life he once had? This sits at the heart of Wolfgang Borchert’s 1946 play Outside on the Street, which follows the return of Sergeant Beckmann to his homeland of Germany. A part autobiographical reflection upon Brochert’s own experiences of returning from war, this surreal, mind-twisting rolling narrative sits perfectly within the hands of Invertigo Theatre. Translated by Tom Fisher and directed by Cheek By Jowl Associate Owen Horsley, Brochert’s play is solidly presented as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.

As an all-male ensemble, Invertigo Theatre’s performers are adept at multi-roling and taking on the opposite sex, and do so with skill and excellent dexterity. The ensemble also provides a number of musical interludes, with instruments and vocals to accompany the work. It is during these moments the full skills of the ensemble are showcased, brought out further through the direction of Horsley.

The design, a number of steel cages of differing sizes, at times hinders the performers, and the lighting, made up of mostly uplighters, could use some further imagination to really match the acting and direction. Setting this aside, Outside on the Street is a polished production, offering some excellent storytelling from this emerging ensemble. The twisting narrative continually questions Beckmann’s state of mind, often suggesting that his time at war has had a lasting impact upon him. Continually drawn to the river, he faces death and pleads to be taken from this life, but the river disagrees, sending him back to life once more. It’s a surreal play, and through the dark narrative questions mental stability, post-war syndromes and if it is possible for anyone to go back to the life they once had after war.

My concern with this production is that whilst Invertigo Theatre presents a solid performance, at no point does it rise beyond the playful surrealist world in which Brochert has written. It is, from beginning to end, a safe production, and with such polished safeness you lose a sense of the real excitement that a play like this could have.

Outside on the Street is playing at the Pleasance Dome until 26 August. For more information and tickets, see the Edinburgh Fringe website.