THEATRE REVIEW - Phaedra's Love

stage@leeds 25/02 - 27/02

By Hannah Astill

Ravenrock’s new production of Phaedra’s Love is not an easy watch, involving scenes of violence, rape and murder, but this is exactly how it should be. It revels in its crudity, and this confidence in danger makes the show work. Written by Sarah Kane, the play is a modern re-working of Seneca’s tragedy, Phaedra. It focuses initially on the uncontrollable obsession of Phaedra towards her stepson Hippolytus, an obnoxious, petulant oaf of a man whose regard for sex is as lax as his regard for everything. Such is his indifference that suicide, rape accusations and imprisonment pass him by with ease, as he brashly exclaims that this is at least better than being labelled ‘boring’.

Director and Leeds graduate Ashley Scott-Layton has the near-impossible job of recreating a play that was already controversial at its 1996 opening. The acting has an almost acidic, clinical conviction to it that collaborates perfectly with the crudeness of the show’s content and the coldness of the initial emotional void. Rupert Lazarus as Hippolytus particularly st

ands out, remaining wide-eyed and complacent to the point that it becomes grating (surely exactly how the character should be played). Similarly, Rachel Helen Shaw and Kate Philips as mother and daughter Phaedra and Strophe have an extremely strong and believable rapport, reflecting perfectly the play’s only genuine relationship.

The casting as a whole has been extremely successful, with the conviction of the protagonists being enhanced by the strength of the ensemble. The addition of live music is also a brilliant touch, creating the ambiance needed for a show of this intensity. Everything is forced together on a dark stage and culminates in an explosive performance.

Scott-Layton’s production is extremely ambitious and contains numerous surprises that aim to shock, and succeed in doing so. This unexpectedness, mixed with the feistiness of Kane’s script and the explicit nature of the acting, make a compelling watch. Be warned, however, the show is definitely not for the fainthearted. It makes no apologies for its explicitness and shouldn’t have to. A truly unforgettable show.