Recently, as part of their Wednesday initiative; Something Different, The Winston Pub in Umbilo, eThekwini, hosted an event that epitomised the dark and gloomy interior of one of Durban’s most infamous watering holes. Acclaimed comic book artist, Luke Molver (Billy Pineapples), teamed up with theatre and television actor Clinton Small to bring HP Lovecraft’s, forlorn, ghastly, hideously grotesque, yet strangely enduring short story ‘The Outsider’ to life.
In the wordy, bleak style that made H.P. Lovecraft one of the most widely read and revered horror writers in literary history ‘The Outsider’, told in the first person, takes the reader into a lonely, desolated world in which the typically unreliable narrator deals with his equally unreliable memory and the resulting uncertain sense of his own identity and his place in a strange world. We follow his journey as he begins to remember, first in fractured pieces and then in floods discovering horrifying truths about life, death and time.
Small adapted the short story into script form and award-winning writer Marc Kay wrote a series of untrustworthy memories masquerading as sleepless dreams which serve to break the narrative and give us a more intimate and unsettling view of the narrator’s longing for light and meaning.
The creative partnership of Small and Molver used shadow puppets, sound effects, voice overs , aptly monotone monologues performed live and horrific costumes and make up to bring this most feared and beloved fable to a stage that is usually reserved for metal concerts and hedonistically reckless abandonment. A little bit of theatre culture never hurt anyone and the venue which is often affectionately referred to as “The Pub” packed out with a diverse and discerning audience of individuals.
It was highly debatable whether some of these individuals had ever even ventured to this much talked of part of the city before this menacingly monumental night, or if the pub regulars in the crowd had ever seen theatre but all were equally moved by the evening’s entertainment. For better or worse an experience and production which is unlikely to be forgotten any time soon, was cleverly executed by the talented team.
The event also saw The Winston, transform into a macabre old tavern for the evening, serving a devilishly, delicious three course meal, conceptualised and executed by Brett Gentles who is one of Durban’s most well-known chefs and owner of the popular Glenwood eatery Parc. Well done to, Clinton Small, Luke Molver, Brett Gentles and The Winston Pub for bringing a tremendously enjoyable romp to The Winston Pub. Something Different, happens every Wednesday, visit The Winston Pub on Facebook to see what is coming up next.
Aweh Online 