By Louise
Link: https://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/gate-generations
Available until: Unknown
The story of Phaedra is really sad, but it is also really interesting because there are lots of different versions of the story. There is a traditional version and an alternative version and lots of other writers have written their own versions. In all of them, Phaedra falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus.
This extract comes from Phaedra’s Love by Sarah Kane. I don’t actually know anything about this version of the play apart from the scene that is performed for Gate Generations, except that something which is revealed which shows that it is not the version where Hippolytus decides not to have any girlfriends. But there are lots of other possibilities and Sarah Kane was a very inventive playwright so she could have taken the story anywhere.
In this scene, Phaedra is very worried about her stepson Hippolytus so she asks the Royal Doctor to give advice. It is a very modern retelling of the story in modern English. The characters are in modern clothes and the scene seems to take place in a modern office. It might actually be in two different places because of social distancing, but director Rohan Gotobed has set is up so it really feels like it's taking place in one room.
I think it works really well. Catherine Chalk makes it clear that Phaedra does love Hippolytus, but it could (in theory) be platonic or even maternal love for her stepson, though I would guess they’re a similar sort of age. Her anxiety is expressed in a really powerful way which contrasts with Hosanna Johnson, who is calm but very firm as the Doctor. It is a very emotional scene and the way the two characters relate to each other is really exciting to watch.
Gate Generations is such a good idea and it makes me want to watch or read all the plays the series is based on.
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