Theatre Review: Claire Cameron
Oedipus: the gory myth has captured the hearts and minds of great artists and thinkers throughout history. Sophocles’ most iconic tragedy has evolved with each new retelling from drama to complex, and Steven Berkoff’s production manages to take the tale to new dramatic heights. An intense production, the sparse set is filled with the contortions of the magnificent ensemble as they attempt to purge Thebes of disgrace and evil. Recalling his earlier re-works of Kafka’s complex psychological plays, Berkoff’s Oedipus has the power to transport the audience in to the darkest secrets of man’s mind without losing itself to morbid over-exaggeration. An unfortunate exception to prove the brilliance of this performance is the sole female member of the cast: Anita Dobson as Jocasta. Supposedly a voice of feminine reason, Dobson’s’s Jocasta seems more gesture than substance compared to the near seamless performance from Simon Merrells as her doomed son and husband, Oedipus. Nevertheless, this production has the power to captivate its audience, leaving you feeling thrilled by its cathartic climax. An absorbing play, Oedipus is a classic tragedy with a cultural resonance far beyond its time, and Berkoff’s rendering confirms the tale’s persistent value in contemporary theatre.
7th – 29th Aug (Not 9th, 10th, 17th, or 24th), Pleasance Courtyard, 1.20 pm, Mon-Thurs: £16 (£14), Fri-Sun: £17.50 (£15).
http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/oedipus-by-steven-berkoff-after-sophocles
