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★★★½
Earlier this year I visited Jermyn Street Theatre for the first time when Original Theatre’s ‘Being Mr Wickham’ opened at the venue. It is a 70-seat performance space in the heart of the St. James’s district of London, which mounts productions just footsteps from Piccadilly Circus tube station. This Autumn the theatre is hosting Sarah Ruhl’s ‘Eurydice’, which is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Taking an alternate approach and focusing on the musician’s new wife, in this version directed by Stella Powell-Jones we learn more about Eurydice as a person and also follow her complex relationships across both the lands of the living and the dead.
Initial thoughts
A strength of the show is how accessible it is to those who have limited knowledge of Greek mythology. As somebody who falls into this category, it was brilliant that this in no way held me back from understanding the material. The key plot points and themes are sufficiently clear, maintaining the spirit of the ill-fated romance.
That being said, some of the creative decisions surrounding the characters were a little confusing. For example, the role of Hades is shown growing from a child into an adult and this character development feels out of place. The ‘stones’ are almost there for comedy value, which is jarring in comparison to the harrowing themes. They are brought to life in hilarious fashion by Katy Brittain, Tom Morley and Leyon Stolz-Hunter, but in some ways I struggled to understand why they had been presented in this way. It is a comedic break amongst the sorrow, but arguably provides too much contrast thematically.
Set design and staging
Tina Torbey’s set design highlights the narrative’s mythical influences. It is simplistic but atmospheric, cleverly transporting audiences to the two contrasting worlds. Background sound compositions help to paint the picture of being near water, with the trickling sounds transforming the stage. The space is at times silently divided in the middle to showcase the two polarised locations and the visual differences are amplified courtesy of carefully considered lighting hues. However, the standout is the movement of letters and people between the land of the living and the dead. The motions are so imaginative, experimenting with height and scale in a truly believable way to indicate the transfer of props.
Depiction of relationships
A highlight is the relationship between Eurydice (Eve Ponsonby) and her father (Dickon Tyrrell), specifically how they reunite in the Underworld. These moments bring welcome pockets of joy, in and amongst the overwhelmingly dark tone of the performance. The overt theme of love, particularly between a child and their parent, is explored wonderfully and helps bring new layers to the myth.
An accessible and engaging take on a classic
Despite my thoughts on some of the characters, it is a really interesting take on the source material. With strong cast performances and a dynamic narrative, Jermyn Street Theatre’s ‘Eurydice’ is the perfect way to introduce unfamiliar audiences to the world of Greek mythology. I also find the venue very inspiring, providing audiences with the opportunity to watch theatre on an intimate scale in Theatreland. ‘Eurydice’ is at Jermyn Street Theatre until Saturday 9th November. Last minute tickets can be purchased via the theatre’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Eurydice’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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