With Phédre, Bell Shakespeare Company has again expanded beyond The Bard that shares their name. However, just because many English-speakers are unaware of this French classic, does not mean the play has not been influential.
Edmund Lembke-Hogan, who plays Hippolytus in this new production directed by Peter Evans and based on Ted Hughes’ translation, explains Phédre as the “pinnacle of French classicism” and “as big in France as Hamlet is in the English-speaking world”. Originally by Jean Racine, Phédre is based on the Euripides tragedy Hippolytus, which is over 2000 years old.
The story goes that King Theseus’ second wife Phédre (played by acclaimed actress Catherine McClements) is cursed by Venus to fall helplessly in love with her stepson Hippolytus. So when Theseus is away, and Phédre believes he is dead, she confesses her love to Hippolytus, only to be rejected by him, partly because he wants more than anything to step out from his famous father’s shadow.
“It’s a cracking story above all,” says Lembke-Hogan, “it’s a page turner so hopefully people just get really swept up in the story.” (KM)
June 6-29, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, $33-72, (02) 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com
BY KATIE MAYORS
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