Nik van den Berg is undoubtedly someone to keep an eye on. In theatre Bellevue, he gives a parody of a rock star in a bizarre act. 'Is this it,' I think for a moment, but it soon becomes clear how cleverly Van den Berg shapes this stage beast in a fur coat. In an unintelligible language, he plays a number of songs, meticulously portraying the mannerisms and gestures of a great rock artist.
Slowly he takes a sip of tea, takes another drag of his cigarette, drops the ash into his tea and then, in utmost concentration, throws the entire cigarette into the tea. A soundtrack starts, then Nik starts the concert with his electric guitar. The songs in NIK©#2 be about life, its problems and difficulties. But it could just as easily be about making a cheese sandwich. Van den Berg's timing is peerless, as is his empathy. This certainly worked on my chuckles, though there will be those who expected more from it.
A totally different approach has I IS AN OTHER and the order of things By Annelies Appelhof and Hanne Struyf. How do you stand in life and how do you put your finger on it? The play philosophises on what is true now and how you know if something is as it is. 'I didn't act, I was played,' Struyf exclaims desperately, and the ladies argue enthusiastically. It is not easy to follow these poetic squabbles. A beautiful old piano, chairs, roses on the floor and some Plexiglas plates form the backdrop. When Appelhof, wrapped in plastic, is buried under all the roses in a fight, it makes for a beautiful image. As does the final scene. Appelhof crawls into a small plastic box and literally has nowhere to go. Trapped in her own life.
NIK©#2 By Nik van den Berg. Bellevue Amsterdam, 6 September. Still to be seen on Wednesday, September 8.
I IS AN OTHER and the order of things By TG Haan. Fijnhout Theatre, Amsterdam, 7 September.
Photo: Piece of the set of 'I is another' by TG Haan. Photo: Henk de Jong
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