THE MYSTERIES till 23 August

Coventry

The Mysteries
Belgrade with Macnas in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral
Tkts: 024 7655 3055
Runs: 1h 15m, no interval, till 23 August
Review: Rod Dungate, 14 August 2003

Style harmonious with setting in the retelling of these ancient tales: an ever-so human JesusIt's huge, it's spectacular yet it's movingly simple too. The evenings of Great Heat behind us, a glorious evening formed the back-drop to one of the most beautiful outdoor settings for plays I know Coventry's ruined Cathedral. The shell of the building, dark, stark, highly atmospheric against the darkening skies, forms a perfect arena it gives space to the performers and retains the sound. The Belgrade mounts the Mysteries every three years and this year is a co-production with spectacle-producing Irish company Macnas Theatre.

The team rise to the occasion, wonderful and mysterious props and items of stage furniture move around the space, sometimes dwarfing the actors, sometimes lending them stature. Metal, wood, plastic, fabric waft and rattle around adding their own special effects to a complex soundscape. Spoken word, dance, physical theatre merge: movement becomes a kind of shamanistic charm. Style harmonious with setting. My only quibble is that the text is occasionally self-conscious though this is made up for by moments of incongruous but entirely apt colloquialisms.

There is a lovely tension between the story being told and the nature of its telling. Against the hugeness of presentation this telling of the Mysteries is about a more than human Jesus: at the moment of his death he reflects with doubt and confusion on his life. He challenges his Father 'There was no Noah. There was no Jonah.' Anthony Taylor is a small and vulnerable figure in these surroundings Jesus's sufferings are all too evident.

This emphasis on suffering and doubt, while real, while modern, leaves little space for a celebration of Christianity as the one true faith: it comes across as rather uncertain and confused. To my mind an accurate view in our 21st Century and diverse world. There is a marvellous litany towards the end: Jesus intones 'To cure the blind. To love the poor. To turn the other cheek . . .' The masses respond to each one with 'Scourge him!' Here's the central dilemma and there is no easy answer.

Macnas
Mike Carbery: Ruth Lehane: Richard Clews: Joe Speare: Rachel Donovan: Anthony Taylor: Isabel Ford

Plus 70 members of Coventry

Co-Director: Richard Hayhow
Co-Director: Mikel Murfi
Assistant Director, Galway: Judith Higgins
Assistant Director, Coventry: Helen Tennison
Designer: Kieran McNulty
Storyboard: Richard Hayhow and Mikel Murfi
Wordsmith: Vincent Woods
Composer: Derek Nisbet
Lighting: Wayne Dowdeswell
Voice Coach Galway: Brendan O'Connor
Voice Coach, Coventry: Jackie Roxborough
Sound: Steve Wilson

2003-08-15 10:32:33