Opening: Jimmy & Iphigenia at Aulis & NationalDate: 21 June 2004
Amongst the major shows opening in London this week are:
OPENING TUESDAY, 22 June 2004 (previews from 12 June) at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre, is Katie Mitchell’s production of Iphigenia at Aulis (See News, 6 May 2004). Euripides’ classic story is translated by Don Taylor and stars Ben Daniels and Hattie Morahan.
The Greek fleet assembles in the bay of Aulis in readiness to launch an attack on Troy, but the wind suddenly drops and the ships stand idle. The army blame their leader Agamemnon who, in danger of losing his command, panics and jumps at a solution: to sacrifice his own daughter to the gods in return for a favourable wind. But how far will a leader go in order to save face and secure a military victory in the East?
Hattie Morahan takes the title role, Agamemnon is played by Whatsonstage.com Award winner Ben Daniels, while Kate Duchene plays Clytemnestra, her mother. Other cast members include Dominic Rowan and Justin Salinger. Iphigenia at Aulis runs in repertory until 8 September 2004.
OPENING WEDNESDAY, 23 June 2004 at the Pit as part of Barbican BITE:04, is Jimmy, a solo play written, directed by and starring Marie Brassard.
Brassard, a close collaborator with Robert Lepage, explores the boundaries between dream and reality. Jimmy is a hairdresser, born at the age of 33 in the dreams of an American General. But just as Jimmy’s about to kiss the man he loves, the American General suffers a heart attack and dies, leaving Jimmy in a state of limbo until he once again comes to life. Jimmy’s limited run concludes on 3 July 2004.
- by Hannah Kennedy
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