This play is a newly written sequel to Eugene O’Neill’s “Mourning Becomes Electra”. It is set in the Mannon family home where Lavinia is still living, shut off from the world, after the violent deaths in the house of her mother, father, brother and mother’s lover. Lavinia is no longer living alone; she now has a young woman named Rose living in the house and looking after her. Rose is forbidden to bring any outsider into the house but she has met a young man with whom she’s fallen in love and he wants to see inside the house. Ultimately this leads to revelations about incest, sex and murder and to further tragedy.
The three performers have all trained at the Wessex Academy of Performing Arts using the Stanislavski method. They bring great power and realism to their characters but everything seems very intense. I feel that the play would benefit from a greater contrast between scenes.
The production would be of interest to anyone who appreciates the original.
[Alan Chorley]
Printer Friendly
