As the curtains are drawn and silence falls across the room, the Chorus move in unison, as they foreshadow the travesties that are yet to occur…
A typical rehearsal for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest extravaganzas of the year: Exeter Classics Society’s annual play, Euripides’ Hippolytus.
With last year’s production of The Bacchae gaining the place of runner-up in the Student Guild’s “Event of the Year” award, the stakes are certainly high this year, but the rehearsals display incredible promise.
Photo by Pilar Torres
Hippolytus follows the story of the eponymous hero, son of the legendary King Theseus of Athens, and the troubles that ensue when he refuses to worship the goddess of love, Aphrodite, in favour of Artemis, the goddess of chastity and hunting. Aphrodite has launched a rancorous plan to make Hippolytus’ stepmother, Phaedra, fall in love with him. As a sick insomniac Phaedra confesses her love for her stepson to a shocked audience of the Chorus and her nurse, she also declares that she will starve herself to keep her dignity. The nurse tells an enraged Hippolytus the truth, and although he swears an oath of secrecy, Phaedra nevertheless finds out… and hangs herself. When Theseus returns to find his wife dead, he assumes she was raped by Hippolytus and places the blame upon his son.
The question remains: will Hippolytus be able to protest his innocence, or will he be condemned to a terrible fate by his own father?
Using Ben Shaw’s translation, the Classics Society has created a unique viewing experience. Touches like the live cello music at the scene where Phaedra’s death is revealed add to the pathos and heighten an already emotionally charged production, full of powerful solos from the leads.
There is also some clever staging, with the use of a silhouette to portray Phaedra’s suicide in abstract, in line with the Greek tradition of not depicting death on stage.
Another feature which really stands out is the Chorus, who in some respects make this production. The use of only five members as opposed to the standard fifteen allows the choral odes to be performed, with actions complimenting the words of the story to very effective and moving dramatic effect.
One thing is for sure – this year’s spectacle is not to be missed. Hippolytus is being performed in the M&D Rooms in Devonshire House at 7PM on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th March.
Hershil Kotak
exeposedev 