Sophie Melville as Effie. Photo credit Mark Douet
FIVE STARS
IT is not often that a
stage show has such a profound effect on me that it reduces me to
tears but that is what happened when I saw Iphigenia in Splott at the
National’s Temporary Theatre.
I am not sure why this
happened exactly. But what I do know is that it was an extraordinary
performance by Sophie Melville as Effie, a 20 something Welsh lass
with a story to tell.
She comes strutting
onto the stage in her trainers, peroxide blonde hair, lycra leggings,
crop top and hoodie, full of attitude and gobby to boot.
She settles herself
down on one of the three chairs on the stage that is surrounded by
strip lights and announces to the audience that we “owe her”.
What we owe her isn’t immediately clear but over the next 80
minutes or so she weaves her story with such clarity and emotion that
she has us all captivated and totally absorbed in the palm of her
hand.
So much so that when
the end comes it is as though we are wacked in the face by the sheer
brutality of it.
Of course I should have
seen it coming but that’s the beauty of the writing. It gripped me
from the off and by the time it was over I was sobbing quietly as I
left the theatre.
Written by Gary Owen it
is based on the Greek myth of King Agamemnon sacrificing his
daughter. In Owen's piece it is set in Wales - though it could have
been anywhere - and is a commentary on Britain today.
Effie rages against the
system, men, the drink, drugs and the decisions that are made in her
name.
At the beginning she is
like any other disaffected young person, angry and fed up – no job,
seemingly no prospects and living with flat mate Leanne and sleeping
with her on off boyfriend Kevin. Trouble is she’s not happy. She
uses drink and drugs to get through the week until one day she goes
to a club and meets a nice man – or at least she thinks he is.
He’s a war veteran,
having lost half his leg in an IED explosion. Spending the night with
him for the first time she doesn’t feel alone. She feels loved,
safe, secure and happy and while she doesn’t say so it’s clear
she’s fallen for him completely – she could be in love.
However, while she
thinks it's something more, he clearly only wanted a one night stand.
Their liaison triggers a series of events including what happens when
Effie finds out she’s pregnant with his baby.
It is heartbreaking,
sad, funny and emotional. In fact going through it all is like being
on a rollercoaster as Effie shows us her vulnerability railing
against the under-resourced NHS, the loss of society and the
Government's austerity measures. It is a swipe at the loss of what
gives people reason to live.
I won’t spoil the
ending, save to say that it packs a powerful punch and I challenge
you not to leave the theatre touched deeply by what you have seen.
Iphigenia in Splott is
on at the National's Temporary Theatre, South Bank until Saturday,
February 20. Tickets cost £15. Visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk or
call the box office on 020 7452 3000.
Sophie Melville as Effie. Photo credit Mark Douet
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