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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewPrometheus Bound
|
I am an ill-fated god
Immanacled an enemy of the Father I have brought upon my self the enmity Of all who sit on the steps of the court of Zeus Because I have loved mankind ---- Prometheus |
David Oyelowo as Prometheus
(Photo: Andrew Knights) |
Set at a turning-point in cosmic history, Zeus has recently established his rule over the other deities and is ruthlessly exercising his newly-gained power. Prometheus' gift of fire and civilization to 'wretched mankind' has thwarted the irascible Zeus' plans to replace humans with an improved species. The action opens as Hephaestus, obeying Zeus' orders, reluctantly shackles and stakes the immortal Prometheus with adamantine, unbreakable chains. However, Prometheus' prophetic insight gives him power which Zeus' torture and chains cannot touch. Meanwhile, another victim of Zeus' tyranny, Io, driven continuously aggravated by the gadfly and cursed by cow transformation, wanders across the site of Prometheus' imprisonment.
David Oyelowo gives a stunningly intense performance as Prometheus, combining profound emotion with convincing naturalism. He conveys the difficult role of a superhuman being in the throes of intolerable pain. His anguished, wordless cries of suffering are truly moving as the god who is the "thought-spinner, fire-stealer and the wet-nurse of creatures of the day." Hayley Atwell is also superb as Io, with her hands and feet bound like hooves as a sign of her partial bovine metamorphosis. Atwell perfectly conveys Io's desperate humanity of the innocent character beset and slightly deranged by divine spite. The chorus of Oceanus' youthful daughters are unobtrusively effective. Their choral harmony and feeling is all the more impressive as the majority of them have only just embarked upon their acting careers.
The set representing the desolated rocky cliff in the Caucasus is austerely simple. Isambard Kingdom Brunel chains hang in front of a background of post-industrialist grey metal with colourless lighting. The chains are rattled, interspersed with sounds of crashing waves and thunder, giving an atmospheric sense of the remote spot, which is frequented only by extreme weather.
The translation was developed by the director James Kerr in rehearsals with David Oyelowo. The result is a text which is finely-attuned to the spoken word, but which is nevertheless fairly close to the original. Unafraid to maintain the more alien aspects of the ancient tragedy, the production has a certain unbounded, idiosyncratic roughness which adds to the powerful ambience. The vigour of the Greek is reproduced with compounds and varied line rhythms, but the unaffected plainness of the language preserves its accessibility. Kerr has chosen not to pinpoint the relevance of this play to any particular era or society, but instead draws out the timeless significance of its themes: power, knowledge, pain, enslavement and secrecy.
The raw energy and simplicity of this outstanding production makes it feel at once like experimental and primeval theatre. Impeccable direction, cool uncomplicated design and excellent acting make this a compelling evening of untamed ancient tragedy.
| PROMETHEUS BOUND
Written by Aeschylus Translated by James Kerr Directed by James Kerr Starring: David Oyelowo With: Hayley Atwell, Michael Dixon, Brian Poyser, Amy Brangwyn, Olivia Brown, Jessie Burton, Katharine Drury, Daniela Finley, Sarah Goldberg, Alexandra Guelff, Rosie Holt, Carla Kingham, Laura Tickell Designer: Paul Willis Lighting Designer: Mark Jonathan Music: Mick Sands Sound: Christopher Shutt Running time: One hour twenty minutes without an interval Box Office: 0870 890 0503 Booking to 9th September 2005 Reviewed by Charlotte Loveridge based on 19th August performance at the Sound Theatre, 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London W1D 6QF (Tube: Leicester Square) |
