Ward No.6 at Camden People's Theatre

Ward No.6 at Camden People's Theatre

11 February, 2011
by: Lauren Romano

Lauren Romano reviews the erm, let's say intimate Ward No 6. at Camden People's Theatre

Matthew Parker’s adaptation of Chekhov’s classic Ward No.6 tells the fateful tale of one deeply troubled Doctor Ragin. Appalled by the substandard conditions at a provincial Russian hospital, Ragin’s wayward nihilism ultimately leads to his incarceration in the asylum where he once worked.

It’s an intense, claustrophobic affair from the off, and the intimate setting of Camden People’s Theatre accentuates the cramped, suffocating atmosphere of the psychiatric ward perfectly. The audience face each other on both sides of the sparsely staged space, and it almost feels like we’re closing ranks on the patients themselves. The intensity of the drama flings the audience into a turmoil of hysterical outbursts, spasmodic twitches and an unpredictably wild to-ing and fro-ing which is uncomfortably exacerbated by the proximity to the stage.

The whole thing makes for difficult viewing, which I suppose is the point. But stick with it and things do become increasingly compelling as the question of where insanity begins and ends rears its ugly head. The disturbing turn of events that see a doctor succumb to the neurosis he had been attempting to treat is made all the more problematic as Dr Ragin’s story is acted out by the patients themselves. The seeming similarity between the doctor’s former life and his present torment sees the drama descend into a dream-like, deeply skewed spiral of events beyond any sort of control. As the protagonist’s grip on reality begins to slip pathos takes hold and I can’t help but feel sympathy towards the powerlessly tragic figure of Dr Ragin. In his attempt to escape from the monotony of a life he can not bear, he seeks solace in the troubled intellect of his patient, Gromov. Their intense debates on mortality and suffering add a dose of philosophy to the proceedings, which at times threatens to drown the plot.

Yet for all its dark and depressing episodes, of which there are plenty, Ward No.6 deals with misery in a way that brings morality and human conscience to the forefront. And thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom; the depressing subject matter is punctuated with moments of humour, both in the overtly ridiculous presentation of ‘sanity’ throughout, and in some lively and unexpected bursts of Cossack dancing.

Unfortunately it is still a bit on the heavy side for me and while the intensity is sustained superbly with some faultless performances from the cast, I’m not convinced that I actually enjoy the story itself. Ward No.6 makes for challenging, and at times exhausting viewing, and ultimately it’s one of those plays you really do have to be in the mood for. But if you’re prepared for its deeply depressing delirium, you might just find this quite engaging.

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Lauren Romano