'National Theatre Live: Salome' (2017)
Opening thoughts: Have for a long time loved viewing the live cinema streamings of the National Theatre Live series. So many gems in the series and very few misses, and what strikes me about watching these productions are how they are made available so accessibly while making one feel like they are there. Am always up for seeing something different to Shakespeare and other theatre standards, and was looking forward to seeing a fresh take on the Salome character and her story.
For me though, the play is not a great one. While admiring what it does with the character of Salome, its story is not the easiest to get into or the easiest to follow. And that is being polite, while the script is self-indulgent. While beautiful to watch and well acted, this production of 'Salome' was just bewildering and fixes none of the issues that the play has and instead exaggerates the issues even further. Some fine talent involved, most of it unfortunately wasted.
Good things: There are good things. It is a very visually striking production, with some truly astonishing (in both beautiful and uncompromising ways) imagery of water, sand and blood. A notable example being Salome's descent down a ladder. The lighting is full of atmosphere in both a dream-like and suitably nightmarish way and the costumes are evocative. The music is truly haunting and beautifully sung and performed.
Moreover, there is some good acting. Olwen Fouere is very commanding in her role and really makes the most of her banal platitude-filled dialogue, while Isabella Nefar mesmerises hauntingly in the title role. Ramzi Choukair plays John the Baptist with tremendous power. There are disturbing and poignant moments of seeing the abuse and mistreatment of women, though full impact is too far and between.
Bad things: On the other hand, the script still comes over as self-indulgent mush and will likely confuse first time viewers. Have seen many fine biblical epics that this sometimes reminded me of, but even most of them didn't have scripts as banal or as empty as the one here. Did not like the staging, which is too careful and too aimless with too much emphasis on slow motion dance-like movement that didn't seem to say anything. Too many staging touches made me question what was the point of this touch and what does it mean, this reviewer doesn't want to constantly think that watching theatre or any kind of theatrical medium.
Pacing is very dull throughout, a number of scenes having very little to nothing going on (some feeling over-stretched), most going on and on without saying very much. Did find the waste of fine actor Paul Chahidi unforgivable, he sounded perfect for Herod on paper but he doesn't come over as sinister enough in an underwritten role and is restricted mainly to stylised slow motion posturing.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, interesting try but regrettably this didn't do much for me.
5/10.
