REVIEW:  This was a stunning production of an ambitious and difficult play. Joy Haynes' direction was assured from the opening scene of the synchronized broom-wielding chorus to the closing processional exit of the wealthy Visitor. The style owed a lot to Brecht and Expressionism; symbolic rather than naturalistic, and unified throughout the acting styles, the painted backcloths, and the excellent costumes. The lighting was brilliant, with spotlights on faces emerging from the darkness ; the green of the forest (a vital Eden in the german psyche); and the evocative folk- music caught the mittel-Europa tone. As for the passing trains and bursts of steam - superb. I could amost feel the rush of air and the smell of coal as the expresses rushed through. (what one might call an Anna Karenina moment).

The two leads, Joe Haynes and Grace Tye were excellent. Joe portrayed Schill's progress from popularity and success to sacrifice and redemption with great control, sincerity and power. Grace Tye looked as if she had walked straight out of a Greek Tragedy. From her first entrance, and dramatic costume, her basilisk stare warned the audience that here was a women bent upon revenge and destruction. The comparison with Clytemnestra was very appropriate. Grace maintained this stylised quality throughout the whole play, no mean feat - never wavering in her aims. Her 'court' were beautifully portrayed and their alien quality made a great contrast with the townsfolk of Gullen. I was particularly taken with the blind pair (played by Linda Daman and Jenny Mannning, who also doubled as Frau Schill and the Burgomaster's wife), who were as sinister as Beckett's Pozzo and Lucky. Pedro (Kanagendra) had a lovely sleazy Latino quality.

The doubling of characters, inevitable in a cast of this size, was very well handled. The townsfolk showed the gradual corruption and shifting of their moral standpoints well, and really worked together as a team. Altogether, a brilliant piece of backstage and onstage ensemble performance, even more admirable in view of the size of the Woodclyffe Hall stage.

Please, may I come to your next production?

Valerie Lorenz.

Photos courtesy of Tom Hodges
www.timhodges.co.uk