Moby Dick is the play adaptation of an iconic story, penned in 1851 by Herman Melville. For that, it is timeless. Or maybe, like the Captain should’ve done with the whale, its time to let go.

The story follows a young man Ismael who wants to kill a whale. He meets a friend who is an absolute beast at killing whales. They meet a captain who got his leg bitten off and really, really wants to kill a whale. So they head and try to kill a whale, which is devastating. (I love whales.)

This play adapted by Sebastian Armesto is one of the most visual creative plays I have ever seen. Choreographer Rachael Nanyonjo is a genius, in short. Whether the characters are hauling the masts or showing off the size of the whale, the visual movements are so appealing and incredible to watch. The most incredible example of this is when the crew harpoon and kill their first whale (sob) and the actors create a mesmerising sequence to reveal a stage of red confetti blood.

Of course, this couldn’t be pulled off without the actors’ skill. The entire cast is brilliant, and they can all hold a note. The sea shanties are, of course, a fun and necessary addition. There isn’t many character development opportunities in the play so it is nice to see the actors use their emotions to add depth. Mark Arends performs well as Ishmael, performing a character who is has likeable moments, but is also bloodthirsty.

The thing about this play is the storyline doesn’t allow any room for further progression. Until a slight moment at the end when a crew member questions whether or not they should just let the whale go, the entire crew seems to turn into a cult set on killing. I understand this is the point of the story, but watching that play out for over an hour gets a bit repetitive. It also made it difficult for characters to develop, with many of them only being focused on the whale. The actors are performing incredibly all things considered, but ultimately they aren’t given many key moments to shine. There are a few attempts at humour, I know this because I hear a laugh on the other side of the theatre, but even the world’s best comedian can’t perform well with a poor script.

Overall, the actors are good. The singing is beautiful. The visuals are phenomenal. It is , in many ways, like watching an art piece. It’s almost a perfect replica of his hunt for a whale, waiting for a climax that never comes.