Quickly swotting up on Sophocles as I'm off to see Elektra this afternoon, which has had some rather mixed reviews 😳 I know the three Oedipus plays fairly well, but the Electra story less so.
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OK, home from Elektra, and, um, I admire the energy Brie Larson brings to it, but she doesn't bring the tragedy to it. Here's what I've just said to @katemaltby.bsky.social about it
The three Elektra plays are very different. I find the Sophocles version the most effective although the character of Elektra is relatively passive. The recognition scene in the Aeschylus version is great but it comes too early in that play.
This is a modern translation of the Sophocles; I don't know the Euripides and it's a long time since I dug into the Oresteia trilogy. I must go back to it!
I saw the Sophocles "Electra" at the Old Vic with Kristin Scott Thomas in the title role. Very good production except that they cut the bit about the jar with ashes, which seemed odd.
Saw it in Brighton. Very disappointing. Hand held microphone hampered Larson and drowned out other actors. Whole thing felt gimmicky.
Mark Strong/ Lesley Manville Oedipus used a modern script but captured the essence of that play much more successfully in my opinion.
yes - I think the production has flattened the nuances out of it and turned all the focus on Elektra herself, which takes away the overarching tragedy, which is that they're all caught up in a cycle of revenge and violence in which they have little or no agency.
I thought the brilliant Strong/Manville Oedipus captured that brilliantly: I watched the clock ticking down to the inevitable horror with a sense of queasy dread - you know it's coming, and there's nothing they can do to prevent it
Yes my eyes were glued to the clock. Really added to the tension. Shows how you can add technology to a Greek drama for a positive effect.
My only quibble was that last scene where it went back to the arrival in the operations room. I thought the blinding would have been a more powerful ending.
I was invited to see The Tempest recently. I would have left at the interval if I hadn't been a guest.
I worry for the school kids persuaded by a Hollywood name - will they ever return to the theatre?
I mean, it's not terrible, and if you're interested in modern takes on classical Greek lit, it's only 75 minutes long and worth a look. But it would not be anywhere near the top of my list of recommendations
The Old Vic Oedipus or the Lesley Manville/Mark Strong Oedipus? I haven't seen the former, and I loved the latter. I think if your budget for theatre is limited, I'd pick something else (go and see The Years at the Harold Pinter, which is stunningly good).
There’s quite a lot of revenge. All Agamemnon did was sacrifice *one* of his daughters so he could get to Troy faster, & vengeful old Clytemnestra kills him for it. Then their other children Electra & Orestes kick off about that & decide to take revenge by killing her. Eastenders meets the Sopranos
I've always thought it's all a *teensy* bit OTT on the revenge front, tbh. Also, *three* plays from Aeschylus about the fallout? Not even Brookside got that deep into the family weeds...
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Mark Strong/ Lesley Manville Oedipus used a modern script but captured the essence of that play much more successfully in my opinion.
My only quibble was that last scene where it went back to the arrival in the operations room. I thought the blinding would have been a more powerful ending.
I worry for the school kids persuaded by a Hollywood name - will they ever return to the theatre?
< folds arms >
NO ONE ends up happy do they?