About the Play:

The Metamorphosis is a one-act drama by Charles Dizenzo, from the story by Franz Kafka. A brilliant dramatization of Franz Kafka's seminal masterpiece about societal alienation. The Metamorphosis tells the story of a man who awakes one morning only to find that he has transformed into a gigantic cockroach and must quickly adapt to his human family and the changes that occur throughout the story.

The Metamorphosis is a play adaptation of the classic story by Franz Kafka in which a man turns into a cockroach overnight. Everyone is familiar with Kafka's macabre tale of a man who has suddenly, and unaccountably, turned into a giant cockroach. But here, thanks to the skill of the adaptor, the humour and pathos of the situation are heightened through their theatrical setting – and the irony of Gregor's plight becomes even more eloquently clear. Charles Dizenzo's stage adaptation relates the story of a travelling salesman named Gregor Samsa, who awakens one morning in his family’s apartment to find himself transformed into a gigantic cockroach – or something equally vermin-esque. It is not only the story of a man fallen victim to a cruel fate, but also of the pettiness and stupidity of those who should feel the deepest compassion for him. The terrible thing which has happened to Gregor is apparently of less concern to them than how this affects their own selfish purposes. As a result his ultimate lot becomes immensely moving, and vividly instructive of the callousness of men toward their fellows.

The Metamorphosis premiered in 1972 at the renowned American Place Theatre off-Broadway in New York City. The play is regularly performed in high school and college theatre productions.

Cast: 4 female, 5 male

What people say:

"This thought-provoking production reveals anew the timeliness of Kafka's strange parable of civilized man." — The Los Angeles Times

About the Playwright:

Charles Dizenzo is an American playwright. His plays were first shown Off Off-Broadway and have also been widely performed in Europe. He has taught playwrighting at New York University and at Yale University.