This week, The Oxford Playhouse plays host to an epic tale of
war, the fall of a great city and the power of the female spirit
in an innovative production of Euripides’ Trojan Women,
produced by Kieran White and translated and directed by Avery T
Willis. It is a phenomenal production, incorporating influences
from many different cultures to create a unique sensory
experience. From Poseidon’s (Adam Perchard) first entry on stilts,
this is an excellently choreographed and staged production. The
interplay between the characters is good and the script is
interspersed with music and dance in a way that supports and
enhances Willis’ translation. The costumes and the music form a convincing background to the
dance moves. In general, the visual and acoustic elements convey
much of the meaning and effect of the play. Liz Brook’s Hecuba is a fantastic evocation of a woman
who has lost everything. She vacillates between despair and
venom, her face and voice conveying many different emotions, in
an impressive performance which transfixes the audience. Chip Horne as Talthybios successfully manages to portray the
dilemma of a man who is ill at ease with his role and the news he
has to bear. The scene in which Andromache loses her son is heartrendingly
poignant and thoroughly gripping. Elisabeth Gray’s
performance as Andromache is convincing and emotive and Kate
Sagovsky as Cassandra gives an impressive performance of a woman
gone mad. She has immersed herself (as have all the actors) completely
in her role. Her tribal-inspired dance into a state of frenzy,
complete with flamboyant costume and a soundtrack of drumming is
one of the most memorable visual moments of the play. Trojan Woman is without question a play not to be missed
– it is a thought-provoking, intelligent and well-oiled
production which appeals to the senses. Moreover, it is
characterised by both brilliant individual performances and a
cohesive chorus. Several moments send shivers down the spine, and
the dance and music subject the audience to the whole spectrum of
emotions. Get down to the Oxford Playhouse.ARCHIVE: 0th week TT 2004
Greece is the Word for Trinity Term
