Solaris

by David Greig from Stanislav Lem's novel

seen at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith on 31 October 2019

Matthew Lutton directs Polly Frame as Dr Kris Kelvin, Keegan Joyce as Ray, Jade Ogugua as Dr Sartorius, Fode Simbo as Dr Snow and Hugo Weaving (on video) as Professor Gibarian in this new adaptation of the 1961 science fiction novel, which has been twice adapted for the cinema, in 1972 (Tarkovsky directing) and in 2002 (Soderberg directing, George Clooney starring). Actually, I also saw an intense and strange theatrical version presented at Nottingham University in 1980.

The premise of the story is that the members of a scientific expedition orbiting the planet Solaris have strange 'visitors', taking the form of people from their past lives, which are presumed to be the attempt of the vast planetary ocean to contact the humans. The play opens with the arrival of Dr Kelvin on the station; she has arrived after the death of her mentor Professor Gibarian, who has left her some tapes; only Drs Snow and Sartorius are left. Kris Kelvin's 'visitor' is a past lover, Ray, an attractive oceanographer whom she dated in her student days but later lost touch with. (In the book and films, Dr Kelvin is male, and his visitor female.)

In a fabulously versatile set designed by Hyemi Shin, comprising white walls with panels covering recesses which can reveal lab desks, beds, sofas, drinks cabinets and video equipment, a series of short scenes punctuated by curtain drops on which are projected ceaselessly moving oceans, the drama is played out as Kris Kelvin tries to come to terms with what Solaris is doing, what its motivations may be, while also facing the personal trauma of meeting Ray again - so convincing is the manifestation of her former lover that there seems no other way of accounting for their interaction.

It's a striking concept to deal with, and tricky to explain dramatically, but the stage adaptation manages to convey both the strangeness of the situation and the emerging crisis as the sheer otherness of the communicating intelligence baffles and perhaps threatens the station personnel. Dr Sartorius in particular is extremely sceptical of Solaris's intentions, and of humanity's capacity to deal with it without destroying it. But the main brunt of the encounter is borne by Dr Kelvin and by Ray; Polly Frame gives an excellent portrayal of the psychologist whose professional attitude is constantly subverted by her personal excitement and emotional devastation, while Keegan Joyce invests Ray with a wonderfully infectious child-like awe at experiencing embodiment, expressed in the relaxed attitude of a wide-eyed Australian surfer turned oceanographer, which gradually turns to dismay and fear as its limitations become more distasteful. These two engaging and exciting performances form the powerhouse of an extremely satisfying production.