Oedipus
Sat, 21 Apr 2001, 11:52 amWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
Oedipus
Sat, 21 Apr 2001, 11:52 amHi all
When I heard that a first time director was going to direct Oedipus I naturally had my reservations. The usual concerns ran through my mind 'what can be done to this production that would make it stand out from the rest'
Well I saw the opening night of Playlovers production last night and those reservations were blown out of the water.
The show was visually and stylistically stunning.
The atmosphere was set on entrance, with the auditorium and bar area dimly lit to reflect the ominous mood of the story we were about to see. (so much so that I spilt my complimentary sherry all over Carmen through lack of vision - sorry Carmen - but if I recall you were wearing shiny vinyl pants anyway so that sherry should just wipe straight off!!!)
The creative side of the show was highly effective. The set looked great with the use of calico wrapped pillars, lined walls and ceiling, and projectons of 20th century images was a fab effect. I especially liked the visual of Oedipus giving his speech behind the lecturn with the television station countdown in the background.
The costumes were outstanding. Once again Terry has done a wonderful job. The Star Wars-esque fantasy feel, looked brilliant. I loved Oedipus' black leather look mesh jacket, and Jocasta's red gown - although we did not get to see enough of it as she was on the floor of the auditorium and not on the stage.
Which does bring me to a minor point of concern. I was sitting in the second last row centre and I did have problems seeing the action on the floor. It was a shame it was not raised just a liitle bit more so we could have seen the entire action. i did feel i missed quite a bit through lack of visuals. but saying that, I know the difficulties first hand Nick of staging shows at Hackett Hall, and had the same problems with Cabaret.
My only other criticism was with the dialogue, I did find certain actors difficult to hear at some points, a combination of acoustics and speed of delivery I think - but that is something I will put down to first night nerves - as it certainly got better toward the end of the second act.
Performance wise I thought it was great. I don't like singling people out in shows, especially in a show that had a really sound ensemble feel. Well done Nick, as maintaining that ensemble feel to a show can be one of the hardest things to do.
Congratulations to all involved on a show well done.
Dave
When I heard that a first time director was going to direct Oedipus I naturally had my reservations. The usual concerns ran through my mind 'what can be done to this production that would make it stand out from the rest'
Well I saw the opening night of Playlovers production last night and those reservations were blown out of the water.
The show was visually and stylistically stunning.
The atmosphere was set on entrance, with the auditorium and bar area dimly lit to reflect the ominous mood of the story we were about to see. (so much so that I spilt my complimentary sherry all over Carmen through lack of vision - sorry Carmen - but if I recall you were wearing shiny vinyl pants anyway so that sherry should just wipe straight off!!!)
The creative side of the show was highly effective. The set looked great with the use of calico wrapped pillars, lined walls and ceiling, and projectons of 20th century images was a fab effect. I especially liked the visual of Oedipus giving his speech behind the lecturn with the television station countdown in the background.
The costumes were outstanding. Once again Terry has done a wonderful job. The Star Wars-esque fantasy feel, looked brilliant. I loved Oedipus' black leather look mesh jacket, and Jocasta's red gown - although we did not get to see enough of it as she was on the floor of the auditorium and not on the stage.
Which does bring me to a minor point of concern. I was sitting in the second last row centre and I did have problems seeing the action on the floor. It was a shame it was not raised just a liitle bit more so we could have seen the entire action. i did feel i missed quite a bit through lack of visuals. but saying that, I know the difficulties first hand Nick of staging shows at Hackett Hall, and had the same problems with Cabaret.
My only other criticism was with the dialogue, I did find certain actors difficult to hear at some points, a combination of acoustics and speed of delivery I think - but that is something I will put down to first night nerves - as it certainly got better toward the end of the second act.
Performance wise I thought it was great. I don't like singling people out in shows, especially in a show that had a really sound ensemble feel. Well done Nick, as maintaining that ensemble feel to a show can be one of the hardest things to do.
Congratulations to all involved on a show well done.
Dave
RE: Oedipus - A Laugh A Minuet
Sat, 28 Apr 2001, 10:01 amWent to see Oedipus last night. Wow. Why on earth aren't there more shows like this going on in Perth??!! It was innovative, visual, intellegent, original, but never lost it's audience for a second through self-concious point-making or showiness.
It must be said that a new and (depressingly) young talent has arrived on the directorial scene. Nick Christo took a difficult and some would say outdated text and kicked it's arse. He managed to stay true to the story and emotion of the text and the amazing costumes and brilliant set never overshadowed the humanity.
The cast were excellent as a whole, but I do feel the need to single people out. Jarrod West was heart-rending as Oedipus. From the second he walked on stage you knew two things; that something terrible was about to happen and that this man was a good man who did not deserve it. At a couple of points in the play I felt as if I had walked in on someones private greif. It was almost like that feeling you get when you watch the news and some poor Chechnian widow has just found out her soldier son is dead. The wailing is so real and almost too much to watch.
I also felt that the actor who played Creon was excellent. A gentle man who never wanted to be king, thrust into a horrific situation he neither invited nor understood. And also the actor who played the shepard. The part was tiny but it really made an impression on me. A poor man amoung so many nobles. He pulled it off so well. That having been said it was impossible to fault the talented cast, who each found the Shakespearian trick, probably taught to them by their director of understanding what they were saying and caring about their words. Thus making everyone of them intelligable to a modern audience.
Critisisms? Only one. I felt the music was in places a bit much. The actors were so talented and well rehersed that we knew the magnitutde of the scene we had just withnessed without the punctuation of loud, momentus music. Mostly the music was brilliantly used, escpecially "Frontier Psyciatry" at the beginning, but once or twice it was a little too much.
Oh and take out the car chase Nick, it just doesn't fit.
It must be said that a new and (depressingly) young talent has arrived on the directorial scene. Nick Christo took a difficult and some would say outdated text and kicked it's arse. He managed to stay true to the story and emotion of the text and the amazing costumes and brilliant set never overshadowed the humanity.
The cast were excellent as a whole, but I do feel the need to single people out. Jarrod West was heart-rending as Oedipus. From the second he walked on stage you knew two things; that something terrible was about to happen and that this man was a good man who did not deserve it. At a couple of points in the play I felt as if I had walked in on someones private greif. It was almost like that feeling you get when you watch the news and some poor Chechnian widow has just found out her soldier son is dead. The wailing is so real and almost too much to watch.
I also felt that the actor who played Creon was excellent. A gentle man who never wanted to be king, thrust into a horrific situation he neither invited nor understood. And also the actor who played the shepard. The part was tiny but it really made an impression on me. A poor man amoung so many nobles. He pulled it off so well. That having been said it was impossible to fault the talented cast, who each found the Shakespearian trick, probably taught to them by their director of understanding what they were saying and caring about their words. Thus making everyone of them intelligable to a modern audience.
Critisisms? Only one. I felt the music was in places a bit much. The actors were so talented and well rehersed that we knew the magnitutde of the scene we had just withnessed without the punctuation of loud, momentus music. Mostly the music was brilliantly used, escpecially "Frontier Psyciatry" at the beginning, but once or twice it was a little too much.
Oh and take out the car chase Nick, it just doesn't fit.