FURΦES

FURΦES is a piece of avant-garde physical theatre that concentrates on the relationship between Orestes and the FurΦes, the personification of his guilt and madness after he killed his mother Clytemnestra. It is part of the ancient Greek saga The Oresteia involving the House of Atreus.

The ‘script’ for this devised work by Liam Ormsby is rather good, clear, concise and dramatic. There is also some rather clever and effective staging by Craig McArdle and excellent Sound Design and Music by Jakub Jankowski.

The cast are all highly committed and engaged; I wish, however, I could say they were also engaging. They were not. They continually shouted and were virtually in a constant state of tight, rigid and twisted physical contortion. It was uncomfortable to watch and listen to.

Everything was given the same emotional weight, making it all one note with very little range of dynamic expression, and hence depth and meaning. I have taught some of these actors and know that they are talented and capable of much better work.

There were four FurΦes with matted and knotted hair and the most unflattering and exposing costumes I have seen in ages.  Actors, just say ‘No – I won’t wear that!’

These FurΦes were more like the witches from Clash of the Titans. I half expected them to start screeching for ‘the eye’;cliché, grotesque to point of absurdity.

Let them play the script more naturalistically and these actors would have made the Furϕes more believable and frightening; after all – the FurΦes are ultimately an extension of ourselves – not gods.

No more witchy-poo acting – please.

Tony Knight

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