ODYSSEY. To 7 May.
Liverpool/Leeds
THE ODYSSEY- Bristol Old Vic
Co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse
In Bristol until 12th March then
Everyman Liverpool 22 March-2 April
Tue-Sat 7.45pm no performance 25, 28 March Mat 2 April 2pm
TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
transferring to West Yorkshire Playhouse 7 April-7 May
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 14, 21, 28 May 2pm 16, 30 April 7 May 2.30pm
TICKETS: 0113 213 7700
www.wyp.org.uk
Running Time: Approx 2 hours and 20 minutes with one interval of 15 minutes
Review: Stewart McGill, 1 March 2005
Total re-imagining of an epic: magnificent.David Farr is a most prolific writer and director. No sooner have we left his two most recent Shakespeare productions for the RSC (Julius Caesar) and his own Bristol Old Vic (Twelfth Night) behind he plunges us headlong into a total re-imagining of Homer's epic Odyssey, his own adaptation, as a play for today.
The revelation begins with the complete transformation of the oldest working theatre in the UK's horseshoe auditorium into a complete arena enabling the power and ferocity of the tale to be both immediate and compelling. This year theatre has explored crossroads areas of imagination where the living meet the dead and past and present collide. I felt this sense of collision at Propeller's The Winter's Tale and here as a contemporary Odysseus defends his status as immigrant to brutal officers in scenes with a strong hint of Martin MacDonagh's The Pillowman. The exiled soldier, beautifully played by Rob Bowman is compelled to tell his story of journey from Troy en route to Ithica evoking memories and images from the voyage.
Using visual imagery including a magnificent Cyclops and chilling Trojan Horse the company of 7 evoke worlds of both mythology and contemporainety. From the harshness of the immigration centre to the Kingdom of The Dead where lost souls, masked and ancient, return the story to its roots. The ensemble playing reminiscent of Kneehigh (sharing the same composer Stu Baker) is fascinating and how good it is to see many companies at all levels returning to the fundamental principles of the ensemble.
This may not be the long awaited full scale realisation of Homer's epic drama, it is very selective in the episodes recounted and for or audiences seeking the sweep of the ancient world it will be lacking. Yet it has a beauty of its own and a reminder that many have tales to tell, lands and families lost, barbaric regimes to flee from and a quest to complete.
David Farr leaves the Bristol Old Vic after this project and moves to Lyric, Hammersmith. It will be a huge loss, no doubt Simon Reade joint Artistic Director has many plans and adventures ahead. Farr gave a new identity, more in line with experiment than ever before and he saves, possibly the most radical work to the end. This Odyssey suggests a wonderful future for the Hammersmith and you heard it here first a strong contender for Director of the National Theatre. Go to Bristol before 12th March!
Cast: Odysseus: Robert Bowman, Athena: Dave Fishley, Roger (Interrogator One): Colin Mace, Harold (Interrogator Two): Stuart McLoughlin, Circe: Mia Soteriou, Maira: Agni Tsangaridou, Musician: Stu Barker/Peter Troake.
Creative Team: Adaptor/Director: David Farr, Designer: Angela Davies, Composer: Stu Barker, Lighting Designer: Chris Davey, Sound Designer: Jason Barnes, Choreographer: Ann M Yee, Puppet Designer and Director: Mervyn Millar, Puppet Consultant: Sue Buckmaster, Fight Director: Terry King, Dailect Coah: Gary Owston.
2005-03-03 11:50:57