Phedre - The Roses, Tewkesbury

Friday 26th June 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of Phedre. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

IT couldn’t be true ... London’s hottest drama starring Helen Mirren ... at the Roses!
But it was true ... almost.
Phèdre was live onstage at the National Theatre and live on screen at the Roses and 69 other venues.
This then is both a review of director Nicholas Hytner’s take on a Greek myth, and a comment on its experimental redirection via cameras.
How would it compare to a theatre experience and to film? This version of Jean Racine’s 1677 play, replaces classical poetry with an earthy and conversational free-verse translation by Ted Hughes.
Its subtle rhythms opened out the story of Phèdre, who believing that her husband Theseus is dead, shocks her young stepson Hippolytus by declaring her uncontrollable passion for him.
Theseus returns, Phèdre - afraid of discovery - accuses Hippolytus of rape and the rest is carnage.
In essence though this fast flowing production is a study of demented love, with Mirren excelling as she moves between monster and pathetic victim, scheming and self-loathing.
But - back to the experiment – this time out the dramatic extremes of her passion congealed on the cold barrier of a flat screen, which also refused to transmit belief in the revenge of Gods.
So, I haven’t quite seen Helen Mirren’s Phèdre. But superb performances radiated around her, and the experiment was still a great success.
Everyone had the equivalent of the best seat in the house, and more sense of happening and immediacy than you’d believe possible.
Indeed, that real sense of being-there will be more than enough to launch the less difficult plays that follow. And I’m looking forward to every one!

Derek Briggs

This is a Crackerjack review of Phedre. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.