The Old Vic recreates Sophocles’ tragedy with Kristen Scott Thomas as his vengeful heroine. Scott Thomas is mesmerizing from the moment she steps on stage, her gaunt, wide eyed expression demanding all attention, mourning almost radiating from her in bitter waves. Tension grips the audience in an iron grip as they do not know whether to expect childlike tears and temper tantrums, or long grieving wails, decorated with painful convulsions to convey the frustration of a powerless woman in classical Greece. Director Ian Rickson sees this as another of his performances in the round, which creates a much more claustrophobic atmosphere, as the play continues without an interval , building to a climax with that much more tension as a result. The Staging is sparse and dominated by a large suggestively shaped tree trunk, perhaps symbolic of the patriarchy that traps Electra in a house with her father’s murderers until her brother, Orestes returns to avenge his father. Apart from this the stage is free for the actors to prowl, stalk and write around on as they please, giving a more honest and raw performance. Perhaps the only question over Scott Thomas’ performance is the fear that she over uses the medium of gesture and movement, as she repeatedly contorts in anger and grief on the dusty dry floor, however I believe this adds to her fearless portrayal of a psychologically damaged woman. A more emotional supporting cast, particularly as Clytemnestra, Electra’s murderess mother, would have made the performance impeccable; however Scott Thomas’ fellow actors are slightly less dedicated and courageous in their roles. Nonetheless the play makes for a brilliant evening, if emotionally draining.
