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Culture Theatre

Blistering Bakkhai is a must-see

BAKKHAI by Euripides, adapted by Anne Carson (Stratford). At the Tom Patterson Theatre. Runs to September 23. $50-$153.75. 1-800-567-1600. See listing. Rating: NNNNN

Never try to control the power of womens sexuality. Thats one of the big takeaways from this devastating take on Euripidess Bakkhai (better known as The Bacchae).

Its no surprise that two women are behind this production: Anne Carson wrote the adaptation, in language thats both poetic and frankly colloquial, and the National Arts Centres Jillian Keiley directs. The eponymous chorus of women features such dramatic heavyweights as Rosemary Dunsmore, Laura Condlln and Bahia Watson.

The story is simple: King Pentheus (Gordon S. Miller) refuses to acknowledge the demigod Dionysos (Mac Fyfe), whos amassed a cult of frenzied female followers, including Pentheuss mother, Agave (Lucy Peacock). Pentheus declares war on the Bakkhai, and (spoiler alert!) loses his head, as well as some other body parts.

From the start, Keiley creates a sort of erotic dreamscape, as the Bakkhai whirl and twirl onto the vagina-like imagery of the set (designs are by Shawn Kerwin), chanting, singing and rapping to the haunting melodies of Veda Hille.

Miller’s Pentheus is a bureaucratic type, carrying around an iPad (on which, in one of the productions most vivid sequences, he tries to masturbate to blurred porn). Fyfe’s Dionysos, meanwhile, is a capricious, androgynous figure who hides dangerous possibilities behind his perma-smile.

The production moves along swiftly to its inevitable conclusion. Andre Morins messenger monologue is a model of storytelling, and Peacocks discovery of what her Agave has done evokes, like the best Greek tragedy, a sense of pity and fear.

Before Agave is sent into exile, Keiley gives us a scene in which Peacock changes outfits. Its a mostly wordless sequence, but each moment in which the actor straps and tightens herself into her new wardrobe registers with its own kind of tragedy.

Only a woman could have directed this marvellous moment, one of many in this not-to-be-missed production.

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