The Oresteia at The Bridge Theatre Review
Image: Johan Persson
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
When we think of Ancient Greek plays we think of tragedies before comedies and the eponymous mask still used to represent theatre. The Oresteia is the oldest known complete trilogy of plays that we have still extant from the height of Ancient Greek history and written by the famous playwright Aeschylus. Simon Stone as writer and director has created a stunning modernised adaptation of the original trilogy as well as links to multiple other famous Greek tragedies including Medea and Antigone.
In the original Oresteia the play begins with the murder of Agamemnon and his concubine Cassandra by Clytemnestra and her lover (Agamemnon’s cousin). This murder is in revenge for the sacrifice of Iphegenia and these sets of murders are then avenged again by their son and other daughter. It is the oldest known revenge story and especially the first story where revenge is taken by the women who have been wronged.
Stone’s adaptation has modernised the story to modern 21st Century Britain. The ten years of revenge cycles takes place over 2016-2026 and includes references to Brexit, the pandemic and modern politics. Instead of the Trojan war and ruling kingdoms Agamemnon is now Christopher Middleton (David Morrissey) who now tyrannically rules over an extremely sinister company with his vile brother Melville (Lloyd Hutchinson). Queen Clytemestra is now his American wife Montie (Mary-Louise Parker) and their children are twins Alice (Rosie Sheehy) and Isabel, referenced off stage, and younger brother Augustus “Augie” (Tom Glynn-Carney). In addition to the main family we also have second cousins father and son Jerome (John Macmillan) and his son Lorenzo (Archie Madekwe).
The play starts with preparing for the twins 21st birthday party. This is the happiest any of the characters will be again, as the story quickly unfurls in to missile and war scandals, revenge, incest, affairs, murder, suicide and corruption. We shift back and forth between key years in the decade while starting and ending with the pinch point of the 21st birthday party. In this format we see the aftermath and reasoning for the murder before the impact of the gory deed before us. While this works well to show where the tragedy will end and reveals plenty of shock twists and turns, attempting to keep all of the dates and timelines can be confusing for the audience as well.
This is a thoroughly impressive adaptation, and I was in awe of the cast’s excellent scorching chemistry and teamwork throughout. This was truly a wonderful ensemble cast and every actor had an equal chance to shine. The majority of the production, the modern adaptation works well and the acting ensures the dialogue is polished jewels strewn on stage. Some elements, such as Augie’s money laundering and mercenary soldier work while suffering from schizophrenia, veer dangerously close to cliché’s.
The set is a triumph and one of the strongest characters in this production. Set as a revolving two story house that evokes imagery of a high end hotel chain we shift back and forth to different rooms to see the story unfurl in different perspectives. The constant shifts in timelines means the rooms themselves vividly change in various states of disrepair or finery throughout.
The pacing is excellently timed to leave each act hanging on a tense cliff hanger so all the audience rush back to their seats for the next instalment. Each act is roughly an hour long so the play’s total running time is three hours and forty five minutes. The tension of this play is wound so perfectly throughout that those hours flew by for me in a horrifying whizz of revenge and cruel murder.
This is a tale as old as time stunningly updated for the modern era. If you enjoy Ancient Greek tragedy, stunning sets, charismatic casts and a banquet of theatricality for your senses then this is the play for you.
The Oresteia plays at The Bridge Theatre until 19th September.
★★★★
