The Revenger's Tragedy review, Hoxton Hall

Ham dram

Hoxton Hall is a fabulous setting for a dark play that rages around issues like rape and incest. The space in this old music hall is tall and narrow, the corridors separated with billowing curtains. We return in the second half of this two hour production to find the seating arrangements completely rearranged. The effect is both unsettling and exciting.

The play, however, is a difficult one to get right. Set in a world of intrigue and violence where people take what they want - from sex to land to lives - without recourse to consent or decency, there isn't a likeable character among them. The intrigues are so complex it takes an age to work out what's happening, a problem exacerbated by puppets being used to make up numbers. It's never dull, however.

Suba Das directs the eye gouging, tongue slashing and suffocation with aplomb, and the space is used well by a game cast including Tom Mothersdale as Vindice and Jaime Winstone as Castiza. What works against the piece is the story. In that claustrophobic, gothic hall, it's all a bit Dastardly and Mutley. The lack of redeemable characters makes the outcome of little interest.

In conclusion: The cast works well and there are some highly theatrical moments; a lot of bangs and spotlight glare. Young audiences with a couple of house cocktails in their bellies will enjoy the spooky late-night high-jinks.

References
Hoxton Hall, buy tickets