Electra Old Vic Performance Notes

Electra Old Vic Performance Notes

Notes

Picture - Google Images/ bbc.co.uk

Picture - Google Images/ www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

• The door in Electra acted as the traditional 'skene' in Greek Theatre.
• The floor was sandy, which represented Greece's weather.
• All of the play was based outside.
• Electra (actress) and Mum were near enough the same age - weird casting choice.
• Time passing was unclear.
• 'If someone hurts your Father, the son will grow up and evenge' - this was a belief by Greek society, hence why it was all down to Orestes. A modern day version of this belief is the Mafia and their ways.
• Whilst it was a modern theatre in which they employed theatrical lighting, they attempted to replicate everyday external light states - natural.
• The stepdad spoke in stacatto, which juxtaposed to all of the other characters. He is high status. He came across as weird and awkward, like the King in Medea. His costume was slightly pantomime, and not appropriate in my opinion.
• No use of song and dance. The inclusion of song and dance is a tradition in Greek Theatre, so an absence of this was odd.