After the disaster of ariving late at the Old Vic's Tunnels yesterday I was determined to arrive on time at the Bridewell Theatre. In fact I was so early nothing was open & I walked for a while to find some pre-show food and drink.
The pre-show publicity advertised a multi-medi interpretation of Euripides - Media. The opening premise was intriguing with actress and co-creator Nicole Pschetz bemoaning the intolerance of locals to foreigners , certainly a topical subject. Her anger and frustration was vented through the combination of words and dance.
She was then joined on stage by Pete Picton in a purely acting capacity as the father of the bride shortly to marry her ( presumably ex) husband, played by Andre Amalio appearing only on a videoscreen. Although he wants to exile her immediately due to threatening behaviour she appeals to his better nature and he foolishly agrees to allow her to stay for another day. This being a Greek tragedy he later lives to regret this decision.
Unfortunately, this reviewer finds this method of presentation less than riveting and my mind began to wander. I may have missed some plot but suddenly Medea was exclaiming she had murdered her children and frantically ran around the stage dramatically ripping up the paper screens. And that was that.
I can't fault the effort and intensity provided by the two performers, ably supported by Cellist Nina Plapp who provided atmospheric music when required. This may have been a success in Lisbon but, unfortunately, it didn't translate to a Saturday matinee audience with just a handful of paying customers. It only lasted forty-five minutes, seemed longer and failed to hold my attention.
To do justice to this tragic subject I felt it needed more than the performers involved and definitely more reasons for her actions. Similarly, the interesting and relevant story of foreigners being ill-treated was never really explored leaving me to feel this was a production of missed opportunities.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment