The anatomy of “Ant”

As I sat interviewing Mike da Silva, the director of Ant, it’s namesake maneuvered across the wooden table and out of sight. The play itself is based on a short story by Alissa Nutting, entitled Ant Colony, which is part of the Bizarro fiction genre. This is a first in South Africa and for da Silva as he had never converted short story to full-length play before. However, it was a classic example of his self-described ‘off-the-wall, weird and very strange’ aesthetic.

“I really think I found my creative voice with this piece.”

Da Silva also tightened his ability to articulate one thread of thought with concise themes, the major through-line being, what love can be. At first glance, this topic sounds fairly unassuming but add a dystopian future where humans are required to adopt another organism onto their person. Include the complex relationship between a superficial actress and a timid dentist who agrees to perform an experimental procedure by filling her bones with ants. What ensues is an oddball reversal of fortune.

Da Silva’s biggest challenge was finding a way to put it onstage because, although the narrative was there, the physicality wasn’t. The production began with a workshop process of sorts where the cast and da Silva set out finding ways of conveying the story. The chorus was also a major element as they fulfilled different roles in the production. The first is a group of human-insect hybrids, setting the stage with scuttles and a soundscape of creatures moving. There were also moments they became the ants themselves, functioning as the bone tenants within the actress’ body. The work also allowed the cast to really involve themselves.

“Can you tell me what exercises you did to get the cast into the right frame of mind?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that, it’s top secret. No, I’m joking.”             

This was actually a very important part of the creative process. It began with creating a bond and sense of community between the cast members. It was important that the cast were able to be silly. An atmosphere of silliness was at the centre of creating Ant. “I embarrassed myself hundreds of times. During one rehearsal, I was showing them what I wanted them to do and ripped my pants. The cast all laughed at me.”

Many of the cast members were new to performing and enthusiastic to show their stuff but da Silva felt it was vital to get them out of their heads, and encourage openness for exploration. The cast even invented their own game called ‘insurrection’ where a leader would take charge of the groups’ movement but another member could choose to break away and lead a smaller faction of people, allowing experimentation and getting in each other’s faces. Play and losing that sense of fear was Ant‘s formic acid. 

The result was the creation of a piece that was as grotesque as it was comedy.

 

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The production formed the practical result of da Silva’s Master’s degree in Drama and Ant made its maiden run at the 2017 National Arts Festival.  Feature image sourced and illustrated by me. Image 1 sourced and Image 2 sourced.

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