Salome

Synopsis

A world of exotic and dangerous decadence. The story of the young Princess of Judea's catastrophic sexual awakening in the corrupt world of Herod's court where she develops a violent sexual obsession with John the Baptist. The original play was often banned and always controversial.

Our Review:

4 July 2010

The Royal Opera House website warns sternly of 'scenes of nudity and violence'. But they're not where you'd expect. Zipped into a succession of chaste white bridal gowns by her lascivious stepfather Herod, Salome waltzes her way through a series of back projections, only to end the notorious Dance of the Seven Veils fully clothed.

Is it a dream sequence or some re-enacted ritual? I wasn't sure when the production debuted in 2008 and I'm still not, but either way the creepy fondling is far more disturbing than the more straightforward titillation of a conventional striptease dance.

But that's not to say director David McVicar spares us. His decadence is neither perfumed nor oriental. The curtains open to reveal the filthy tiled walls of a decrepit bunker. Designer Es Devlin kits it out with everything a ruthless dictator needs to survive an apocalypse - wine racks, urinals, a small army, a bevy of half-naked women and a dead pig. Evidently Herod is taking seriously the wa...

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Latest User Review

David - 10 July 2010:

saw the performance on 7 July quite superb. Magnificent performances all round and excellent production. What more can I say except... Go see it!...

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