Abstract: Metamorphosis, a production by Hijinx Theatre, is loosely based on the novel Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Released during the Covid-19 pandemic, the play integrates virtual networking technology (Zoom) in its performance and audience participation. The play is a commentary on society’s insistence on normalcy in the face of an unprecedented public health crisis. It is also a play within a play and shows how everyone had to adapt themselves overnight to virtual meetings, which excluded many people.

Details: The play opens at the Kaf Bar with the bartender (against a Zoom background of a bar) welcoming everyone to the Kaf Bar at the Green Man Festival 2020. He is delighted to see many participants and lays down a few housekeeping rules. He invites people to have a drink and a quick natter (conversation) with him. As he waits for new participants to join, there is a technical glitch noise in the background, and he tries to understand what is happening. He asks if it is Gareth, and Gareth responds that he is lost, and the barman replies he (Gareth) should wait to arrive. Gareth repeats that he cannot get in, and the barman responds that he is not meant to be in the bar. Gareth asks him if the bar is real, and the barman replies that it is not real, revealing that he is in his living room and the bar is a virtual background on Zoom. Gareth mentions that it is confusing him, and the barman responds that he cannot help him, but he will fetch Morgan, who can help him. Morgan appears on the screen. He is outdoors, indulging in his socially distanced exercise (running). He is the director of the ‘On the Fly’ theatre group and shares the exciting news that they got funding to put on a play. He announces that they will be working on the production of Metamorphosis. He adds that he will be working with an inclusive cast, which will happen over Zoom. His segment is interspersed with shots (in the style of security camera footage with a red tint) of Morgan working on the laptop, shaking as he sits and lies on the floor. In the next act, Auditions, Morgan pumps himself up for the auditions. The auditions happen over Zoom. He calls the first person as Lindsay, but she is seen to be struggling with technology. As Lindsay tries to figure out how to unmute herself, Morgan seems to interact with someone in his house. As she leaves the screen to get something, Morgan vapes and resumes his conversation with the other person in his living room. Several others audition too. Morgan is interrupted again by the person in his living room. As he stands up, he can be seen in his underwear, arguing over using a swear word in front of a 7-year-old and attempting to dodge apples thrown at him by the other person in his room. Finally, he begins to eat one of the apples. Gareth makes his presence felt by mentioning that he is still there. Morgan tells him to turn on his camera, Gareth responds that he can’t, and Morgan continues with the audition. Morgan seems to have spotted Tori, gets up (revealing himself with no pants), tries convincing her to stay (audiences can hear the door slamming, signalling her departure), and curses. Gareth can be heard again; he asks if Morgan is okay. Morgan (almost sobbing at this point) tilts down his camera to hide his face, inadvertently displaying papers on the table and his crotch to the audience. The barman is back on the screen. He is high on energy and apologises for Gareth, mentioning Gareth gets lost sometimes. He proceeds to conduct a quick poll for the audience. The question for the poll is, ‘If you woke one morning to find changed into a monstrous venomous bug will you a.scream hysterically b. Worry about being late to work c. calmly accept that this is a new normal d. laugh at the irony of life. 36% of the audience responded with ‘scream hysterically,’ making it the winner. Amidst technical glitchy sounds in the background, Mr. Mc Kenzie appears on the screen urging Gregor to come online. There is a lot of disturbance in the background, with sounds mimicking a person in pain. Gregor’s screen appears for a split second, and the frame is empty. Mr. Mc Kenzie tells him he failed to attend the future travelling sales force meeting that morning. Gregor’s screen reappears. In the mirror pane of a photo frame, we see the silhouette of a person’s head, but they seem to be coughing and retching. Gregor replies he is not keeping well. The retching, technical glitchy sounds continue as Gregor’s reflection slowly morphs into an insect-like silhouette. Mc Kenzie questions if Gregor is unstable (referring to the internet connectivity and oblivious to Gregor’s transformation). As Gregor’s condition worsens, Mc Kenzie asks if there is someone who can help him. Gregor’s mother, Mrs. Samsa, joins the call and mentions that Gregor has been up since seven and is very busy. Mr. Samsa then joins the call, enquiring if Gregor is in the frame and reminding him that he must go to work. The photo in the photo frame is that of Gregor and the bug’s silhouette superimposed on it. All three of them talk over each other. Close-up of Gregor’s screen as the silhouette transforms, followed by a shot of six Zoom screen panels showcasing close up of organs that make up the face. The barman is back. This time he introduces a spiritual guru who takes the audience through a quick meditation session from his bathtub. Gareth can be heard again and mentions that he cannot get in. A woman appears on screen, reminiscing the time Gregor and she spent in Paris. She ends her monologue by mentioning that she knows Gregor is there and can hear and remember her. She adds that she loves him. The title ‘Greta’ appears on the screen. The person under the blanket from the previous call appears on full screen, and they are attempting to say something but can’t be heard. A montage of red-tinted security camera footage showing the director working on his laptop, crawling, etc., appears on the screen. Four women from the auditions appear on the screen. They talk amongst themselves that the director needs to figure out what he is doing. FeeFee, one of the members, mentions that the session is being recorded. Morgan checks on their progress. They get a notification on their screen that the breakout room will close in the next 67 minutes, and all of them are seen to be walking into their house to mimic the effect of travelling from the breakout room to the main room. Red-tinted security camera footage of Morgan on his knees on the floor - helpless, angry, etc. superimposed with Mr. Mc Kenzie’s voice asking if he is finished yet, with the response that ‘I do not think so, Mr. Mc Kenzie.’ Mc Kenzie berates Gregor. At McKenzie’s insistence that Gregor should eat cake, Morgan exits and returns (crawling) with a plate of cake and starts eating it undignifiedly. As he eats, Mr. McKenzie expresses his disgust at how Gregor is eating. He comments that ‘it is metamorphosis.’ At this point, Morgan (who has been on the floor, writhing in pain, holding his head between his hands, and eating cake, all this while) looks up at the mention of Metamorphosis and realises that there is a security camera recording and extends his hands, presumably to dislodge it. Mr. McKenzie can be heard panicking as he questions if ‘He (Gregor) can see them, can he?’ His voice has marked urgency as he gushes, “Disable it. Disable it now.” Scene shifts. Barman is shown to be watching the feed from the security camera on multiple screens (tablet, large monitors, laptops, etc.). He faces the audience, tries to mask his emotions, puts on a cheery face, and changes his Zoom background to that of the bar. He is taken aback and in shock, as he tries to engage the audience. He says it is time for another poll, and the question this time is - If your family will leave you to die so that they can get back to the life they had before, would you a. Agree with them dutifully, roll over and die b. Explain to them that a humane society does not abandon their most vulnerable c. Kill them, cocoon them, and live off their corpses d. Leave the house and never come back. The winner with 39% was - to leave the house and never return. In the production, on the call, the actors play Greta, Mr. Samsa, Mrs. Samsa, and Gregor. Greta initiates the conversation by mentioning that they need to talk about Gregor; Mr. Samsa and Mrs. Samsa chime in and say that he repulses them. Gregor pleads. The family keeps talking over him. They all decide to leave and not come back. Mrs. Samsa enthusiastically remarks - ‘Let us go! Let us go now.’ Greta agrees, ‘Let’s fly. Let us go.’ Everyone leaves the call. Gregor is left alone. He is crying, calling after his dad not to leave him. He slowly lays down, and the screen goes dark. Gareth can be heard asking if ‘anyone is there.’ Gareth finally appears and asks, ‘If Gregor is back in there.’ Gregor responds with a hello. Gareth tells Gregor that he needs to turn his camera on. The screen splits into two windows, and in the other one, the red-tinted security camera feed shows a close-up of Gregor with cake crumbs on his face. He looks dejected and sad. Gareth tells him that it will be okay, reassuring him that he (Gareth) is here for him and that he loves him. Gregor responds with, ‘I love you, Gregor.’ The play ends with the title ‘Metamorphosis’ on the screen. The cast appears on the screen in gallery view in their apartments, entering and exiting frames, examining their faces, making gestures with their hands, etc. Morgan observes himself on the laptop wearing a rubber mask, takes off the camera, and takes it outside. The play ends with a shot of shining sun and windmills.