Helen

Synopsis

Two Helens, the real and the phantom. A war is fought over the phantom but the real one goes unrecognised. Helen's husband has a reputation as a hero - but he isn't. The King of Egypt is dim and the virtuous Whore of Sparta has to manage her own rescue.

Our Review:

Maxwell Cooter - 6 August 2009

Helen is the strangest of Greek tragedies - indeed it is not really a tragedy in the usual sense of the word. It's a play with a happy ending where the stage is refreshingly uncluttered by corpses. However, it’s also a piece that balances some sprightly comedy with some serious reflections on the nature of war.

Euripides has an intriguing twist on the familiar story of Helen of Troy. In his take on the tale, Helen has not been abducted by Paris, but a replica of her has been created by the gods, a replica so lifelike that it deceives her husband Menelaus. Helen has passed the ten years of the Trojan War and seven years since in exile under the watchful eye of King Theoclymenus . There she stays until Menelaus arrives, washed up on the Egyptian shores in simple clothing; reunited, they plot their escape from the lascivious king, who has his own designs on Helen.

Frank McGuinness' new translation eschews much of the poetry but offers a fast, snappy take o...

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Latest User Review

David Baxter - 23 August 2009:

I've always felt that the authentic Globe experience can only really be attained during a daylight matinee, which makes it highly appropriate to stage a Greek drama - it's surprising they haven't done it before. Helen (. . . . . of Egypt) is an excellent first choice - broad enough to rise above the distractions at this venue and, at 90 minutes, just the right length for the uncomfortable seating. Deborah Bruce treats Euripedes' tragic comedy (or comic tragedy) as a joke filled romp with a very modern translation by Frank McGuiness, although some of the colloquialisms go too far. Penny Downie is magnificent as Helen, spirited and erotic and showing a testy impatience when her long lost husband proves a bit slow on the uptake. Paul McGann is a dignified Menelaus, effectively stolid amongst the near farce around him and there's a bit of fun spotting sporting lookalikes - Mohammed Ali as the King of Egypt and Roy Keane lurking in the chorus. Not all the gimmicks work - Castor and Pollux as labourers with angel's wings are just silly, but Helen is great fun and I hope Greek drama has found a new al fresco home on Bankside....

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