Orpheus Descending

Synopsis

In a small town in the Deep South of America nothing ever seems to change. That is, until one day, a charismatic young drifter appears with a snakeskin jacket and a guitar. Like a fox in a hen coop, this wild eyed boy tears up the prejudices and certainties of the town, igniting the passion of Lady Torrance, who for years has been trapped in a loveless marriage. But their freedom and love is too much for such a narrow-minded community...

Our Review:

Glenn Meads - 30 October 2012

Imogen Stubbs knows the work of Tennessee Williams well, following her towering performance as Amanda Wingfield in Shared Experience's Glass Menagerie and Stella in Streetcar in the West End. She delivers a very likeable turn here - in one of Williams' more modest successes - as Italian Lady Torrance. But like the play itself - her accent wavers so much in act one that it becomes confusing.

This sums up the play really, as the stage is filled with so many characters, you'd think you were watching a rich Shakespeare production - whereby each piece of dialogue is connected and cause and effect is evident throughout. Unfortunately, that's not the case, as many of the supporting characters are irritating and quickly become surplus to requirements. You long for fireworks but instead this resembles a damp squib of a play.

Some of the classic Tennessee Williams ingredients are evident - the setting of the Deep South, a dangerous romance between two mismatch...

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Latest User Review

ecbian - 22 November 2012:

Just caught this in the last week of it's run. Completely brilliant production with fantastic performances all round. The wonderful Imogen Stubbs is stunning as Lady. Laughed and cried. Top drawer....

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