Euridice by Sarah Ruhl. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London until 08 November 2024, 2✩✩. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Alex Brenner.

Euridice by Sarah Ruhl. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London until 08 November 2024.

2✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Ruhl has an off day.”

Everyone can have an off day and the distinguished American dramatist Sarah Ruhl, whose version of Orlando at this theatre two years ago I praised, as did everyone else, this occasionally diverting but pointless variation on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth is one such day. It is well enough performed, stylishly set and Eve Ponsonby makes an enchanting Eurydice, albeit here a father obsessed young woman of little brains. Keaton Guimaraes-Tolley is a nicely gangling Orpheus who plays a guitar not a lute and wanders around mourning her death until Eurydice does him in. Love of Dad wins out. Orpheus does turn to look at her as they quit Hades but only because she does what she was told not to do – calls out to him.

A trio of stones comment upon the goings on. Dressed all in black with their head dress reminiscent of those worn by the Duchess in Alice in Wonderland – the influence of Carroll is everywhere - only their faces exposed are initially rather irritating but as time wore on – at 90 minutes it is an over long evening – I started to enjoy how they reacted to the goings on they witnessed. Katy Brittain's facial contortions were a delight. The other two were more phlegmatic,Stella Powell-Jones presumably opted to do it because of Orlando, but really she should have thought twice. Among the puzzles imposed by Ruhl is a length of string which keeps getting pulled heaven knows why although it may have something to do with the wedding ring Orpheus created out of string only to have his bride demand gold. Some of the Wonderland inspirations are amusing like the fact that the ruler of Hades, played by Joe Wiltshire Smith with suitable pomposity of a Tweedle Dum wants Eurydice for himself, starts off as a schoolboy when she first arrives. But it is Katy Brittain's face pulling that saved the day in as much as it could be saved.

Cast

Katy Brittain – Stone.

Eva Ponsonby – Eurydice.

Joe Wiltshire Smith – A Nasty Interesting Man, The Lord of the Underworld.

Keaton Guimaraes-Tolley – Orpheus.

Tom Morley – Stone.

Leyon Stolz-Hunter – Stone.

Dicken Tyrrell – Father.

Creatives

Director – Stella Powell-Jones.

Set Designer – Tina Torbey.

Costume Designer – Emily Stuart.

Lighting Designer – Chris McDonnell.

Sound Designer – Carmel Smickersgill.

Movement Director – Elliot Pritchard.