Low DownThe Child questions: the brother-Gods dispute, wrestle and carouse: the big Questions of life are asked: the Oracle remains Delphic. ReviewIt’s not often we get a chance to meet with the God’s of old: in THEDEAD’s mesmeric production Apollo and Dionysus, these brothers of excess and moderation, step down as if from a frieze on the Acropolis and wrestle, caress and carouse before our very eyes and the eyes of the Child. “Where is the Oracle?” they ask him: “What am I allowed to do?” asks the child “Who am I allowed to love?” Ecstasy or Control? Freedom or Moderation? Is the important thing the choice we make, or simply the act of making choice itself? Dionysus speaks of excess and graphically practices what he preaches: Apollo of moderation but it hasn’t stopped him having a good time. The stench of wine, invades our nostrils: it is passed even from mouth to mouth: the blood of experience eventually covers every rippling muscle of the two Gods, the curvaceous hips of the Oracle and even the white of purity of the Child.
Apollo extends his arms and the discus or the javelin is thrown again; they seem really to be in his hand, in the air. In their God-given pride these actors could have modelled for Michelangelo. Everything physical is beautifully and accurately brought to life from study of original Greek artwork. Gentle music and movement almost in slow motion hypnotise and transport us to some timeless moment in the ancient world.
The Oracle appears: the Child questions: the Brother-Gods dispute and wrestle and love: there is no hurry, the moment will last for ever. All four actors play with marvellous control and a pace that is not of this world but is very real all the same. The experience is economically, sensitively and imaginatively directed: don’t go to bed tonight – join the Gods!
It’s not often we get a chance to meet with the God’s of old: in THEDEAD’s mesmeric production Apollo and Dionysus, these brothers of excess and moderation, step down as if from a frieze on the Acropolis and wrestle, caress and carouse before our very eyes and the eyes of the Child. “Where is the Oracle?” they ask him:
“What am I allowed to do?” asks the child “Who am I allowed to love?” Ecstasy or Control? Freedom or Moderation? Is the important thing the choice we make, or simply the act of making choice itself? Dionysus speaks of excess and graphically practices what he preaches: Apollo of moderation but it hasn’t stopped him having a good time. The stench of wine, invades our nostrils: it is passed even from mouth to mouth: the blood of experience eventually covers every rippling muscle of the two Gods, the curvaceous hips of the Oracle and even the white of purity of the Child.
Apollo extends his arms and the discus or the javelin is thrown again; they seem really to be in his hand, in the air. In their God-given pride these actors could have modelled for Michelangelo. Everything physical is beautifully and accurately brought to life from study of original Greek artwork. Gentle music and movement almost in slow motion hypnotise and transport us to some timeless moment in the ancient world.
The Oracle appears: the Child questions: the Brother-Gods dispute and wrestle and love: there is no hurry, the moment will last for ever. All four actors play with marvellous control and a pace that is not of this world but is very real all the same. The experience is economically, sensitively and imaginatively directed: don’t go to bed tonight – join the Gods!
Reviewed by RF 22.08.08 Website :n/a |
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