Comments on: The Water’s Edge http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/ Group authored publication covering theatre and the performing arts in London and beyond Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:06:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Taylor-Barnes http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/#comment-2337 John Taylor-Barnes Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:01:41 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=839#comment-2337 Thanks very much for claifying this Stephe. I appreciate it. I obviously misread the whole setup. I was under the impression that it was a UK production setting this in a US context. I got the wrong end of the stick. It doesn't help matters that the Arcola website gives such scant information. Though that criticism also applies to most theatre websites. Thanks very much for claifying this Stephe. I appreciate it. I obviously misread the whole setup. I was under the impression that it was a UK production setting this in a US context. I got the wrong end of the stick. It doesn’t help matters that the Arcola website gives such scant information. Though that criticism also applies to most theatre websites.

]]> By: Michael D. Finch http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/#comment-2331 Michael D. Finch Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:52:06 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=839#comment-2331 Delighted to read that Ben Payne's lighting work was exceptional and sensitive towards what sounds like a very excellent production! Another candidate for an Olivier Award, one day! we hope. Delighted to read that Ben Payne’s lighting work was exceptional and sensitive towards what sounds like a very excellent production! Another candidate for an Olivier Award, one day! we hope.

]]> By: Stephe Harrop http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/#comment-2288 Stephe Harrop Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:38:17 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=839#comment-2288 I would tend to describe this a "new play inspired by" - it's certainly not a translation, nor even a close adaptation of Aeschylus. And as for the North American setting, I assume that's primarily because it's a North American play, by a North American playwright, first staged in contemporary North America. It didn't seem to me that the production was using American-ness as a deliberate "issue" (unlike, say, the 2005 RSC Hecuba giving "molasses-mouth" master-of-spin Odysseus an American accent). I would tend to describe this a “new play inspired by” – it’s certainly not a translation, nor even a close adaptation of Aeschylus. And as for the North American setting, I assume that’s primarily because it’s a North American play, by a North American playwright, first staged in contemporary North America. It didn’t seem to me that the production was using American-ness as a deliberate “issue” (unlike, say, the 2005 RSC Hecuba giving “molasses-mouth” master-of-spin Odysseus an American accent).

]]> By: Andrew Eglinton http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/#comment-2261 Andrew Eglinton Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:59:30 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=839#comment-2261 Hi John. In response to your information quest, I've dug out a few links. I've added a link in the info and credits section (top right) to Theresa Rebeck's website (playwright). I found the director's profile page on Stage Jobs Pro here: http://www.2st.com/seasonArchives.php?menuItem=27 It would be great if we could get Fiona Morrell to respond in person. Let's see what happens... Hi John. In response to your information quest, I’ve dug out a few links. I’ve added a link in the info and credits section (top right) to Theresa Rebeck’s website (playwright).

I found the director’s profile page on Stage Jobs Pro here: http://www.2st.com/seasonArchives.php?menuItem=27

It would be great if we could get Fiona Morrell to respond in person. Let’s see what happens…

]]> By: John Taylor-Barnes http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-water%e2%80%99s-edge/#comment-2260 John Taylor-Barnes Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:39:23 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=839#comment-2260 In the publicity for this piece it says: "Caustic, funny, poignant and thought-provoking, The Water’s Edge, echoing Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, flings itself from American naturalism to the heart of Greek Tragedy". In your review, you don't mention anything about the North American setting and/or company. Were these geo-cultural references insignificant in terms of the overall staging of the piece? I remember seeing Katie Mitchell's Oresteia with the Ted Hughes translation at the NT in 1999. I found the Hughes text blisteringly poetic. It had more layers than a mille-feuille. What about the translation used in this version? Was this an adaptation? I can't seem to find any more information other than the blurb on the Arcola Website. In the publicity for this piece it says: “Caustic, funny, poignant and thought-provoking, The Water’s Edge, echoing Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, flings itself from American naturalism to the heart of Greek Tragedy”.

In your review, you don’t mention anything about the North American setting and/or company. Were these geo-cultural references insignificant in terms of the overall staging of the piece?

I remember seeing Katie Mitchell’s Oresteia with the Ted Hughes translation at the NT in 1999. I found the Hughes text blisteringly poetic. It had more layers than a mille-feuille. What about the translation used in this version? Was this an adaptation? I can’t seem to find any more information other than the blurb on the Arcola Website.

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