First (steamy) image of Richard Madden and Lily James as Romeo and Juliet
Review: Jackson's Way: The Christmas Top-Up Power Seminar, Battersea Arts Centre

Review: Richard Eyre's emotionally powerful Little Eyolf, Almeida Theatre

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Little Eyolf opens with two women excited about the return of Alfred (Jolyon Coy). Rita (Lydia Leonard) is Alfred's husband and Asta (Eve Ponsonby) is, well, at first that it isn't clear what her relationship is and that is part of the genius of Richard Eyre's production. Her body language suggests more than familiar love, is she a sister in law with secret desires?

Once their relationship is revealed there remains a residual feeling of ambiguity about her feelings for Alfred that permeates all their encounters. Alfred for his part is a bit of a block. He's been away hiking in the mountains in order to kick start his writing again but in the nature of his return neither Rita or Asta will be at peace.  While he was away he had an epiphany about his life, decided to give up writing and instead devote his time and attention to his son Eyolf having previously neglected him.

This isn't music to Rita's ears who feels her husband is slipping away from her, transferring his affection onto their son. She is desperate to rekindle the passion they had when they were first married, to the point where she strips off in order to provoke her husband. Lydia Leonard's Rita is a complex mix of suppressed sexuality, jealousy, loneliness and desperation. She is like a mother lion defending her cub in whatever way she can except she is defending a relationship that is slipping from her grasp.

Eve Ponsonby's Asta is conflicted, as the opening scenes suggest. Bjarne (Sam Hazeldene) an engineer working locally, and a good man, is in love with her and wants to marry her but she keeps rejecting him. Jolyon Coy's Alfred is emotionally repressed, he cannot see much beyond his own needs, is undiplomatic in his honesty and, like his wife, actually quite lonely.

When tragedy strikes these fragile relationships are ripped apart, grief puts barbs into tongues and all are forced to re-examine their lives. It is quietly painful watching Alfred and Rita and their relationship hitting self destruct and reconciliation or a peace of sorts seems almost impossible.

In Richard Eyre's 80 minute distilled version of Little Eyolf he has created an emotional rope bridge that slowly unravels before your eyes and threatens to take Rita, Alfred and Asta down with it and it is gripping to watch.  A worthy and powerful follow up to the splendid Ghosts of two years ago.

Little Eyolf runs at the Almeida Theatre until Jan 9.

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Jolyon Coy was in Testament of Youth with Colin Morgan whom Mr W's character Baby shot every night in Mojo.

 

 

 

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