Known as the horror blockbuster of its time, The Revenger’s Tragedy bade adieu after three blood-soaked evenings of nightmarish gore, devious plotting, and (unsurprisingly) tragic revenge. From Thursday 8 May to Sunday 11 May, the Farrer Theatre echoed with gut-wrenching screams. Nineteen students performed under the direction of Mr Haighton, with the help of the creative team, to create a fever dream of a production which showcased Eton Drama at its finest.
This dark comic tragedy centres around Vindice, who seeks vengeance against the Duke for poisoning his fiancée, Gloriana. Disguised as Piato, a pimp, he infiltrates the corrupt court alongside his brother Hippolito, to assassinate the Duke and his heir, Lussurioso. The gradual unveiling of disguises and deception eventually culminates in a bloody masque, where Vindice and Hippolito murder Lussurioso, while other major characters also kill each other in a final desperate grasp for power.
The creative vision of this production was crucial to achieving the nightmarish, otherworldly setting — a world truly indescribable unless seen in person. Whether it confused, shocked, or terrified the audience was up to the individual. Every character wore the same dark blue thobe and were only distinguishable by their makeup and headpiece. The makeup consisted of a white base, resembling a mask, with each character having distinct clownish patterns painted across their faces to reflect their traits. For example, the Duke (played by Ben H) wore a long, black moustache-shaped line across his face to demonstrate his power and command, as well as his foolishness. The Duke also had a very intricate death scene in which he spurted up fake blood and had his prosthetic tongue nailed to the wall, where it hung for some time.
The set, designed by Roma Farnell, was predominantly different shades of blue, with two house frames disproportionately drawn into the centre to create a cartoonish feel. Lighting remained mostly dark and stark, while sound was minimal, contributing to the ethereal atmosphere. Combined with the brightly coloured, clashing headpieces, a strange, dream-like world was vividly brought to life.
The actors brought Middleton’s complex plot and Jacobean dialogue to life with their purposeful and committed performances. Mr Haighton’s intention to create a ‘satirical’ response to the typical revenge tragedy was clearly successful, with the slightly melodramatic acting choices creating highly distinguishable caricatures on stage. Tristan M’s seamless ability to switch instantly between Vindice’s desperate need for revenge and disgust at his actions, to the physically animalistic disguise of the over-flattering Piato, was brilliant and truly convincing. As the play progressed, Vindice’s character began to merge with the mad persona he pretended to be. Alongside him, Kit R played Hippolito with a delightful murderous glee.
Their final masque dance and murder sequence — with a choir miming to some overly-upbeat acapella music and plenty of comic slow-motion — was an unsettlingly comedic climax to an otherwise tragic and grim build-up. Another highlight was Lussurioso (played by Alfie M), whose precise characterisation created a commanding stage presence, with an almost spider-like physicality that unnervingly embodied his apathetic nature.
The complex relationship between Caztiza (played by Kit H), an innocent virgin, and her mother, Gratiana (Dominic M), was portrayed with sincerity, and was particularly tragic when Gratiana agreed to sell her daughter’s purity to Lussurioso. In contrast, the artificial relationship between brothers Ambitioso (Charlie H) and Supervacuo (Christopher L), who were portrayed almost as clowns, offered comedic respite in the tragedy, especially when one anticlimactically slit the other’s throat during the chaos of the masque.
The ensemble actors played several roles: from green-haired judges, Cockney-accented guards to masked choristers. Their importance was highlighted from the beginning, with a dance-runway sequence introducing the court and culminating in everyone performing unnatural and creepy dance moves in unison, immediately setting the tone for the weird and wonderful play that followed.
Well done to the cast and crew for a unique school play that definitely paid off. It was a brilliant success.
