Review: TITUS ANDRONICUS, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Photo credit: Camilla Greenwell
Known as the most macabre and gory of Shakespeare's plays, you'd be forgiven for not actually knowing what Titus Andronicus is really about.
The titular character, Titus, is a great Roman military general. Having returned to Rome after defeating the Goths, he is now the people's favourite to become the next Emperor, following the death of the previous ruler, although his sons Saturninus and Bassianus are keen to prove that they are more suited to following in their Father's footsteps.
However, Tamora, Queen of the Goths, marries Saturninus and becomes Empress of Rome and after Titus has brutally sacrificed her eldest son, Alarbus, she is thrsty for revenge. Tamora's secret lover, Aaron, tricks Tamora's remaining sons into murdering Bassianus and raping and mutilating Lavinia, Titus's daughter.
Wrongly framed for this act Titus's sons are executed and alongside his brother Marcus and remaining son Lucius, Titus executes his revenge.
Tamora, meanwhile, gives birth to Aaron’s son, and having a Black father in the highly racist society of Rome will lead to its own problems, not to mention that she will not be able to pass off the child as her husband's.
Tamora then decides, as part of her revenge plan, to visit Titus disguised with her two sons, but Titus sees through this and tricks her into leaving him with her sons, who he then murders and cooks them in to a pie, feeding them to their Mother.
He then kills his daughter Lavinia to conceal her shame, then Tamora. Then Titus is killed by Saturninus, who in turn is killed by Lucius. Spoiler alert: there is an exhausting amount of killing!
The production is performed in the Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a beautifully intimate candle lit space and is perfect for this all-female cast to play but don’t be mistaken, this is definitely not a feminine production, its got more of a 'beware a woman scorned' vibe.
Directed by Jude Christian, murder ballads are used to tell parts of this dark story. Their macabre lyrics set to tuneful upbeat music is uncomfortable and humorous in equal measure, but ingeniously put together by composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman and musical director's Adam Gerber (singing) and Fred Thomas (band).
We'll be honest, it was not at all how we expected this production to be, but we were undoubtedly thrilled that this is what we were presented with!
Stunning performances all round and we're hard pressed to single out any one performance, but we do need to mention that Kibong Tanji as Aaron provided a menacing performance, as they skulked in the background observing the spark of revenge playing out between everyone else, eventually using this to gain momentum and survive ahead of all the others.
Lucy McCormick as the mysoginistic Saturninus, plays the chauvinistic qualities of a man in a way that only a woman can! It's an interesting performance that should not be missed. We couldn’t possibly not mention the various characters of Beau Holland (Bassianus, Quintus, Martius, a fly, Nurse, Midwife, clown and Aeilius) most of whom meet their deaths in an array of ways, with perfectly timed comedy, speech intonations and brilliantly styled movements.
The production is very much styled with black comedy and is quite literally outstanding.
Beautifully lit by candles, there is what can only be described as a candle massacre! It's not for the faint hearted, we never knew there were so any ways to put out a candle!
In all seriousness though, the metaphoric use of death and the candles is poignant for the performance space and detracts the attention from the literal blood and guts of the storyline, so that the audience is able to concentrate on the more layered revenge and selfish behaviour of the main characters.
It 's an all round, superb and immensely entertaining production, that you simply must go and see as soon as possible!
A waxing lyrical of blood and revenge!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin
Titus Andronicus plays at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the Globe Theatre, London until 15 April, with tickets available here.