the production, it may ultimately be misleading. Anyonelooking specifically for a sampling of something from the Theatre of the Absurd could not be fullysatisfied here. In this production what occurs onstage often appears to be of the Absurd. The effect,when it does occur, is usually accomplished visually. Although the production often has the lookpopularized by practitioners of Absurdism the meaning here is different. The relationship between Theatre de Complicites production of Street of Crocodiles and theTheatre of the Absurd bears some clear resemblance to the one Tom Stoppard illustrates in his shortplay After Magritte. In it, Stoppard allows his audience to examine their own reaction to stagepictures they may feel are familiar to them. At the curtains rise the stage is populated by charactersin unlikely physical positions interacting with common household items in unusual ways. Initiallythey are discovered in plateau. As they begin to speak their vocabulary appears to be fragmented anddevoid of meaning. What follows in the plays short action is the information that fills in the gaps inthe narrative and justifies all that has gone before. In this way Stoppard tells his audience that theyhave come to accept at least part of the vocabulary of the Theatre of the Absurd. The signs and noteshave become recognizable and thus there is some chance of anticipating the action.The effect of the visual imagery used by Theatre de Complicite covers some of the sameground. The work relies on its audience having a basic familiarity with the styles feel and tone. Itsinclusion is meant to accomplish the establishment of an altered perspective. For the plays opening, Josephs entrance precedes the others and he initially occupies the stage alone. The companyssubsequent entrance is described in the plays text as follows.The cast gradually appear on stage as if called up by Josephs imagination. One of Fathers assistants, Theodore, wa...
