Globe Education Online
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Helen (2009)
![Helen [Penny Downie]. Photo: Keith Pattison.](http://www.globe-education.org/files/imagecache/lb_slideshow/images/Globe-Helen-1528_capt.jpg "Helen [Penny Downie]. Photo: Keith Pattison.")
directed by Deborah Bruce
Seven years have passed since the end of the Trojan War and Menelaus, King of Sparta and husband to Helen, is making his slow and painful way home. When his ship is wrecked on the coast of Egypt he stumbles upon what seems to be his wife lingering outside the royal palace. But if this is the real Helen, who was the beautiful woman stolen by Paris, for whom all Greece took up arms?
The renowned playwright Frank McGuinness (Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me) follows his acclaimed version of Oedipus at the National Theatre with a funny and sparkling treatment of Euripides’ strange, comic, fairy tale-like romance – the Globe’s first excursion into full-scale Greek drama.
Penny Downie most recently appeared as Gertrude in Hamlet and Penelope in The Penelopiad for the RSC. Paul McGann is best known for the film Withnail and I and his theatre work includes Mourning Becomes Electra (National Theatre).
Creative Team
Director: Deborah Bruce Designer: Gideon Davey Composer: Claire van Kampen
Cast
Holly Atkins - Chorus Philip Cumbus - Chorus Penny Downie - Helen Jack Farthing - Chorus Diveen Henry - Theonoe James Lailey - Pollux Penny Layden - Gatekeeper Fergal McElherron - Castor Paul McGann - Menelaus Rawiri Paratene Theoclymenes William Purefoy - Chorus Ian Redford - Servant Ukweli Roach - Messenger Tom Stuart - Chorus Graham Vick - Chorus Andrew Vincent - Teucer Phil Hopkins, Irita Kutchmy, Dai Pritchard - Musicians
Just Opinions
"deliver, like free and honest men, our just opinions"
Henry VIII, 3.1.63-64
Have you seen this season's production? Post your thoughts on the 2009 Helen below:
Comments
The clear counter-tenor of
The clear counter-tenor of William Purefoy fills the Globe again – this time he is the Singer – chief of the chorus - in Euripides' Helen, ancient Greek drama in a new version by Frank McGuinness.
McGuinness's is a demotic voice, with cliché, phrase and saying studding this light-hearted tragedy.
Not so tragic, then, since this Helen has nothing to do with the Trojan War, as she is at pains to point out. A marvellous performance from Penny Downie, clearly spoken, deeply felt, with exemplary comic timing.
Her scruffy survivor Menelaus was played with energy and dignity by Paul McGann.
A mixed bunch of a supporting cast included Rawiri Panatene as the swaggering, gullible King of Egypt, and Penny Layden as a xenophobic gatekeeper with a heart of gold.
This year the Globe crew are sporting tee-shirts with a “scenery-free zone” message. But this show, like many of the others, has been fully designed: here there's a massive palace wall, with a spoil heap and a ladder round the pillar. All adding almost nothing to an already colourful production.
Can we have more work for our “imaginary forces” next year, please ?