Oedipus at the Old Vic is the second production of Oedipus in London this year. This portrayal is an exciting retelling of the ancient story but some of choices detract from the narrative and from the sense we are watching a piece of Greek theatre.
One key differentiator is that this is an Old Vic / Hofesh Shechter Company co-production. The traditional role of the Greek chorus has been replaced by contemporary dance from Hofesh Shechter’s company. This is wildly intoxicating and where it is used to represent the frenzy of the crowd it is very effective at inducing the frantic feelings of the moment.
Where it is less successful, is where we have baying crowd sounds but a motionless set of dancers. Some of the statuesque tableaux the dancers form against the stark light (Tom Visser) and sparse set (Rae Smith) are stunningly visual but the juxtaposition of the agitated crowd roars and the dancer’s stillness feels mismatched.
The exploration of how much we should be led by religion, and the inflammatory power of crowds, felt timely as did the sense that desperation leads to scapegoating but is not always carried through to the performances of the main characters.
I personally found Rami Malek as Oedipus a little wooden. He enunciated very clearly but did not seem to use his full body to express emotion and his tone was fairly unvaried. We are not given the sense he truly wishes to save the people of Thebes, it feels more like a line item in a board meeting of fairly minimal importance. Even when it is clear he is likely to be the one scapegoated by the crowd, there is little change in emotion or expression.
Indira Varma as Jocasta was more compelling but, again, her distress as their complicated relationship is revealed could have been more desperate. Everything feels just a little tidy and clinical.
The wider cast carry their parts well. Nicholas Khan is an untrustworthy and slimy brother oozing false compassion. Nicholas Woodeson imparts perhaps the most emotion of any of them as he recounts what we saw as a shepherd, knowing what it means for Oedipus. Cecilia Noble and Joseph Mydell bring intensity to their roles.
There are many successful components here but it somehow never quite comes together into a totally coherent whole.
Red Bus Londinium Life 
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