Electra

The Bunker

Reviewed – 1st March 2018

★★★★

“an accomplished and dynamic production, that milks its source for contemporary relevance”

A family tragedy of epic proportions, DumbWise Theatre bring John Ward’s new adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy to the Bunker Theatre. Electra, the youngest daughter, lives as a prisoner of her mother and the man who killed her father, while her brother Orestes is in hiding. As their personal story is manipulated for political gain, questions of revenge, loyalty and fate merge into a bloody climax.

This is a raw, stripped back staging of the classic tale updated to reflect modern sensibilities and complemented by a stark punk-rock score. John Ward’s interpretation retains the lyricism of the classic, but strips away some of the grandiosity to cut to the core of the story. Combined with Samuel Wilde’s open stage and stark lighting, this truly allows him to open up the characters and expose their full complexities to the audience. Unlike the gods, the characters do roll in the mud, revelling in their pain and humanity.

It’s a strong ensemble cast, with no weak links. Standouts of note would be Sian Martin’s coldly charismatic Clytemnestra who deftly moves the audience from fear, to scorn, to sympathy in what is a stirringly topical exploration of what it is to be a successful wife and mother in a position of power. Also Dario Coates as the naïve, conflicted Orestes, torn between loyalty to his father and his mother. Despite the over two hour run time, the pacing is tight and the musical interludes break up the action. While the first half can seem a little convoluted as it lays out the complex political landscape, it really hits its stride in the second half when we get to concentrate on the personal family drama at the heart.

It’s an accomplished and dynamic production, that milks its source for contemporary relevance. It’s incredibly effective and moving. Lydia Larson is electric and anarchic as Electra, a symbol of the revolution, full of rage and righteousness. The lasting impression is of a young woman so twisted by the pain of the past, that she has lost faith and sight in the future.

Reviewed for thespyinthestalls.com

Photography by Lidia Crisafulli

Electra

The Bunker until 24th March

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