I didn't think Kafka could get more disturbing. I was wrong. While there are wonderful moments of the lyrical --"If you stop asking, will I stop dreaming?"-- this is a wildly dark and modern take on the novella, the Metamorphosis. I appreciated the 'drug addled' jagged speech of the disturbed, abusive father and his complicated relationship with the bug/son who makes him feel more human. Corona takes the disgusting elements of the novella and heightens them- a sensory overload. Designers will have a ball. Not easy to clear one's mind after reading this one.

As a fan of The Metamorphosis, I was eager to see what Jarred Corona would do with this premise. I am happy to report that Corona writes a compelling, creepy, and horrifying play. The tension here is just palpable which makes for some great dramatic moments. Corona does a fantastic job of setting up a well-developed atmosphere that truly brings this world to life. This would be a truly compelling piece of theatre to see staged. I can predict audiences won't stop thinking about it after seeing it.

With THE BLATTRIAM, Jarred Corona has written a creepy, high-concept play with terrifying ambition and deliciously brutal execution that draws on what it means to be human, but not quite in the way a reader might expect. I especially appreciated the themes of familial disappointment and rejection, and the parallels between Petyr's transformation into a cockroach and LGBTQ identity were unmissable. A great read, especially for fans of Kafka.