CRUEL AND TENDER. To 4 September.

Chichester

CRUEL AND TENDER
by Martin Crimp after Trachiniae by Sophocles

Minerva Theatre To 4 September 2004
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed Sat 2.15pm Sun 4.15pm
Audio-described 18 August 2 September 7.45pm
Runs 2hr 10min No interval

TICKETS: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 5 August

Impressive realisation of strong passions in a politically-destructive world.For all Out of This World' is Chichester's theme, Martin Crimp's play (inspired by rather than simply adapted from Sophocles) is extremely in this world. His spare, elegant script places the overpowering feelings of the two central characters within a wider space than the open, yet increasingly claustrophobic room where the action occurs, recovering the mythic dimension of Sophocles.

Much of the play shows Amelia, a General's wife, waiting at home as an unidentified conflict ends. With people to keep her house, massage her body and paint her toenails, and as her e-game addict son hardly occupies much of her time, there's little to sympathise with in this woman. Many have coped better with less support.

Yet, discovering the reality behind the two African children a smooth-mannered MP brings from her husband (Georgina Ackerman an especially disturbing figure, innocently yet scarily honest as she leafs through glossy consumer magazines), it's little surprise Amelia goes vengeful and demented. Crimp doesn't quite integrate her chemical means of revenge convincingly, but the descent to distraction is beautifully handled by Kerry Fox. At her most physically polished moment, her snappy control vanishes and - whatever her offstage fate - we see her spiralling descent into emotional quicksand.

Then the General arrives home, disfigured in mind and physique, veering between dirty rage at imagined slights and fanciful talk of high-level meetings. Joe Dixon's huge frame lumbers, his voice rages in a performance that immediately establishes this man's professional greatness and his personal diminution by conflict.

Luc Bondy describes his production as realistic, but it's not fussy detail. Characters stand still when apt. The result is disquieting super-reality; controlled yet having the unnerving impulsiveness of reality. The casually cheery end-of-shift leaving of the household staff, after resentfully obeying Amelia, is just one image burnt into the memory.

In this single room, filled first by women then by a man, Crimp, Bondy and their cast create the volatility of a world where armies and terrorists mutually wash against each other, where libraries and schools are secret arms dumps. It's far from easy, but the power is immense.

Laela: Georgina Ackerman
Nicola: Jessica Claire
The General: Joe Dixon
Cathy: Lourdes Faberes
James: Toby Fisher
Amelia: Kerry Fox
Jonathan: Michael Gould
Iolaos: Aleksandr Mikic
Rachel: Nicola Redmond
Richard: David Sibley

Director: Luc Bondy
Designer: Richard Peduzzi
Lighting: Dominique Brugiere
Sound: Paul Arditti
Costume: Rudy Sabounghi
Wigs/Make-up: Cecile Ktetschmar
Voice Coach: Joanna Weir-Ouston
Assistant director: Lucy Jameson

2004-08-09 09:50:22