HECTOR'S HOUSE: Lip Service at New Vic, Newc'le U Lyme, till 22 June

Newcastle Under Lyme

HECTOR'S HOUSE: Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding
Lip Service @ New Vic: Tkts 01782 717962
Runs: 2h 25m, one interval, till 22 June Then tour Autumn 2002-Spring 2003. Autumn dates below.
Review: Rod Dungate, 11 June 2002

Eves 7.30, Mat Sat 15 2.30

You don't have to be mad to see this but it helps. Explosive theatre in Stoke on Trent.There is a fashion for performing rarely seen or never-before-seen plays they are known as 'discovery plays'. One thinks of the RSC with Massinger's THE ROMAN ACTOR and Jonson's EASTWARD HO! at present in their repertoire. Lip Service is following in this valuable tradition and are presenting a surprise discovery HECTOR'S HOUSE by a hitherto unknown Greek playwright (unknown to me at least) Hypotenuse. The play itself is like a great Greek Ern (oops, Urn) into which they pour their considerable flow of inspired lunacy.

Lip Service members (Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding) are leading lights of the National Institute for Bringing Legends to Life Society NIBBLES) and through Hypotenuse's play tell the tale of Paris, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Aphrodite, Helen and Hector, the Butcher of Troy. Even the wooden horse is brought gloriously to life. In all this they are aided and abetted by Nicholas Lumley who we learn turned down the role of an RSC King Lear and a major part on FOOTBALLERS' WIVES to work with these women: a brave man!

Lip Service, in this production under the sure but sensitive hands of director, Gwenda Hughes and Mark Chatterton, has developed a unique acting style can this really be true? you ask yourself. They brilliantly combine the epic nature of Brecht at his best, alienating the audience with sharp asides that comment on the characters' plight with a broad, deeply emotional, operatic presentation reminiscent of Wagner. The result is unbelievable. I really thought I might explode with shock.

You will never, before, have seen acting like this on the British stage. Maggie Fox's fine performance as Achilles, her muscles not so much rippling as indenting, had me quivering in my seat, while Nicholas Lumley's touching performance of Helen, in delicate purple frock and flowing white wig had me shaking with tears. Sue Ryding reveals a gnomic quality to Menelaus, I wouldn't be surprised if B and Q aren't soon selling little models of this character for your garden: I shall be in the queue to get one.

You don't have to be mad to see this but it helps!

Lip Service: Maggie Fox, Sue Ryding
Special Guest: Nick Lumley

Director: Gwenda Hughes, Mark Chatterton
Designer: Richard Foxton
Composer: Mark Vibrans
Lyricist: Malcolm Raeburn
Lighting: James Farncombe
Sound: James Earls-Davis
Choreographer: Sarah Nixon
Cameraman and VT Editor: Ray Johnson

Tour:
28-31 August Theatre Royal York 01904 623568
3-14 September Library Theatre Manchester 0161 236 7110
16-21 September Gateway Theatre Chester 01244 340392
24-28 September Greenwich Theatre 020 8858 7755
29-31 October Grand Theatre Blackpool
5,7-9 November Theatre By The Lake Keswick 017687 74411
11-16 November New wolsey Theatre Ipswich 01473 295900

2002-06-11 14:40:33