I had never heard of the Dusseldorf Ripper. Come to think of it, I had never heard of Dusseldorf. I hated Geography at school. Mrs Haynes was a nasty old witch. She didn't exactly inspire interest. Only a desk of intricate doodles.
I like to learn, but sometimes you can just be put right off. Normal had that effect on me in a monumental way. It was Mrs Haynes multiplied my one thousand.
The Dusseldorf Ripper is in prison awaiting his sentence. With his lawyer, he reflects on his crimes through the early 20th century. Are monsters born or are they created?
The first thing that strikes you as the play begins is that the acting is atrocious. The young actor playing the lawyer managed to get dressed, but that's about it. There was not a real care in anything that he said. Anything emotional was overblown and unbelievable. It was difficult to watch. The other two actors were better, especially the young actress, but by no means good.
There was some nice silhouette imagery. But that was it. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and clichéd, with the delivery plunging it to a new depth of appalling.
It all played out like a bad TV movie that should never have been made. I would rather watch CSI than this. And I hate CSI.
Perhaps I may look up the Dusseldorf Ripper now. So a minor victory for the production. I will not, however, be looking up Normal again. And I suggest you do the same.
Times: 17-29 August (not 23)