EIF 2024 Penthesilea Lyceum Theatre 6th August Review
Penthesilea by Internationaal Theater Amsterdam has its UK Premiere at The Lyceum Theatre as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival from 3 to 6 August. If you are planning to go along, be prepared for sitting for a while as this performance is just over 2 hours with no interval.
This production is described as a “a visceral, sexy and grungy reinterpretation of an ancient love story with the medium of music”, but in truth it is a hybrid between theatre and a rock opera and does not seem to want to decide which of the two it really is.
There are times when this doomed love story between Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons and Greek army commander Achilles, during the Trojan wars, is set to be a classic modern take on an old story, but at times this is interrupted with humour that does not seem to fit into the narrative. These moments did, however, get some laughter out of many people in the audience, so perhaps it did serve a purpose.
What is clear though when the narrative really flows is just how good Penthesilea, with direction and adaptation by Eline Arbo and Heinrich von Kliest (writer) can be. Here Ilke Paddenburg (Penthesilea) and Jesse Mensah (Achilles) are a powerful combination on stage.
I have to admit that I would have liked to see the rock-opera elements of this work developed further as Thijs van Vuure (Composer & Musical Director) has created something a bit special here, and Jesse Mensah has the vocals, attitude and on-stage charisma to do something really special with his role as Achilles. On the music performance elements of this production, Felix Schellekens as Meroe, Amazon is obviously having a lot of fun playing guitar too.
This production is a true collective work on-stage and it would be unfair not to mention performances by
Marieke Heebink - Diana, high priestess of the Amazons
Maarten Heijmans - Odysseus, Greek army commander, friend of Achilles
Maria Kraakman Prothoe, - Amazon, lover of Penthesilea
Steven Van Watermeulen - Diomedes, captain of the Greek army
Eefje Paddenburg - Antilochus, Greek army commander
Daphne Agten - Melanippe, Amazon
This production is going to be divisive, and in the end this is so often the case with productions that are bold and original in their approach to any subject matter.
Penthesilea is performed in Dutch with English Surtitles.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
This production is described as a “a visceral, sexy and grungy reinterpretation of an ancient love story with the medium of music”, but in truth it is a hybrid between theatre and a rock opera and does not seem to want to decide which of the two it really is.
There are times when this doomed love story between Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons and Greek army commander Achilles, during the Trojan wars, is set to be a classic modern take on an old story, but at times this is interrupted with humour that does not seem to fit into the narrative. These moments did, however, get some laughter out of many people in the audience, so perhaps it did serve a purpose.
What is clear though when the narrative really flows is just how good Penthesilea, with direction and adaptation by Eline Arbo and Heinrich von Kliest (writer) can be. Here Ilke Paddenburg (Penthesilea) and Jesse Mensah (Achilles) are a powerful combination on stage.
I have to admit that I would have liked to see the rock-opera elements of this work developed further as Thijs van Vuure (Composer & Musical Director) has created something a bit special here, and Jesse Mensah has the vocals, attitude and on-stage charisma to do something really special with his role as Achilles. On the music performance elements of this production, Felix Schellekens as Meroe, Amazon is obviously having a lot of fun playing guitar too.
This production is a true collective work on-stage and it would be unfair not to mention performances by
Marieke Heebink - Diana, high priestess of the Amazons
Maarten Heijmans - Odysseus, Greek army commander, friend of Achilles
Maria Kraakman Prothoe, - Amazon, lover of Penthesilea
Steven Van Watermeulen - Diomedes, captain of the Greek army
Eefje Paddenburg - Antilochus, Greek army commander
Daphne Agten - Melanippe, Amazon
This production is going to be divisive, and in the end this is so often the case with productions that are bold and original in their approach to any subject matter.
Penthesilea is performed in Dutch with English Surtitles.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
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