Andromache

We saw Graham McLaren's Hamlet a couple of years ago - a stripped-down version showing the bare bones of the revenge tragedy it would have been in the hands of one of Shakespeare's contemporaries. Not really comparable to a couple of the great Hamlet's we have seen, but better than the general run of them and exciting theatre in its own right.

Well, his production of Andromache has a similar pace and style, set in post-invasion Iraq (or somewhere similar). I am sure Evie Christie's writing was a big part of this, but she certainly appears to have found a soulmate in McLaren. (I don't know the Racine original, but I doubt much more than the basic plot outline survived here.)

The play is loud, savage, brash - like the emotions and obsessions of the main characters.

Arsinee Khanjian is the only actor I recognised, playing the only low-key (and relatively minor) role, that of Andromache. She was very dignified as the Iraqi/Trojan queen, but I think she could have turned up the wattage a bit to compete with the strutting American/Greek characters.

Christopher Morris was apparently in the 2009 Hamlet, but I did not recognise him. I found his performance a bit off, in that he tended to gesture and declaim, while the rest of the acting was more naturalistic. Still, lots of intensity.

Steven McCarthy (Orestes) and Ryan Hollyman (Pylades) I do not know, but were excellent and seemed thoroughly real.

Christine Horne (Hermione) was terrifying - but in a good way. Her Hermione is why men become heroes. Or monks.

A thrilling performance; I am glad I got to it. Eat your heart out Cathy!