Video review: Oedipus, Old Vic - 'I didn't feel like there was any chemistry'
16/02/2025
Video review transcript: How did Oedipus at the Old Vic compare to the production at the Wyndham's last year [starring Leslie Manville and Mark Strong]?
I think Wyndham's is definitely the winner for me.
This production at the Old Vic, starring Rami Malek and Indira Varma, mixes dance and play.
And at first, I loved the dance. And then I got frustrated with the dance, because the dance sequences go on for quite some time.
But then, as the play progressed, I just wasn't connecting with it. I didn't feel like there was any chemistry between the two leads, and I wasn't connecting with the characters.
I didn't really care what happened to them, to them, to be honest. I didn't feel like there was any shock or revelation in the same way that there was in the Wyndham's production.
And I found myself actually drawn to the dance and enjoying that more than the play itself.
It's very dark. It's very moody. Sometimes you think, can you just light the stage a bit bit more?
And it felt ironic that it was so dark, considering this is set during a drought. You think, well, there's a drought, it's going to be sunny and bright.
Keep up to date with my video reviews, subscribe to my YouTube channel or follow me on Instagram.
You might also like:
Interview: 5 questions with writer Laura Horton
Review: A Good House, Royal Court Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ booking until 8 Feb then at the Bristol Old Vic 14 Feb-8 Mar