4 STARS
The Nottingham Playhouse’s Production of The Revenger’s Tragedy is a camp, blood-drenched, hammy spectacle of an evening. Think Game of Thrones meets Shakespeare meets Mamma Mia and you won’t be too far off the mark.
The Revenger’s Tragedy tells the story of anti-hero Vindice, who is seeking revenge on the Duke and his court for the murder of his fiancée. Aided by his brother, and masquerading as an ally to the Duke’s son Lussurio, an evening of murder, incest and adultery is played out against the backdrop of 1970s glam rock and grunge.
It’s the style of the show that really sells it. From the dirty guitar riffs that puncture the end of each scene to the glitter-infused set design and costumes, this is a show that oozes spectacle, sex, and drama from the get-go. Whilst I would say that it is more than a parody of a conventional tragedy than a serious retelling, this parody blends beautifully with the dingilyglamouroussetting that the design team has created. The show is at its best when it surrenders to this hamminess – I particularly enjoyed the Saturday-Night-Fever-esque dance number towards the end of the play.
This is not to say that the play did not also have it moments of deep, compelling drama. The character of the Duke was imbued with a quiet menace – which is hard to pull off in head to toe black sequins – and his Gary Glitter connotations raised by his costumes were played menacingly yet subtly by Paul Brightwell. His delivery of the line “my hairs are white, but my sins are green” as a group of young school girls are lead into his bedroom to sign autographs is a stand-out powerful moment in the show. Whilst it is safe to say that there was no weak link in the cast,Bethan Mary-James stole every scene she was in as a conniving, two-faced possible heir to the throne.
The titular revenger – played by Alexander Campbell – shone when adopting his alter-ego in the Duke’s Court, but was occasionally less convincing as Vindice himself during the first act.My favourite performance of the night was by far the Duke’s heir Lussurio, played by Declan Perring, whose masterful comedic timing and over-the-top theatricality made him a complete joy to watch.
Whilst there were some projection issues which made it harder to hear certain actors when they went further down the Playhouse’s deep stage, and perhaps at times elements of the staged combat felt unconvincing, the Nottingham Playhouse has succeeded on putting on an original, entertaining, and gorgeously over-the-top piece of theatre.
Edited by: Jess Greaney
Sources:
http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/drama/the-revengers-tragedy/
http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/drama/the-revengers-tragedy/
https://eastmidlandstheatre.com/2016/09/22/nottingham-playhouse-casting-…