The Stage

Yerma

Published Wednesday 30 August 2006 at 11:10 by Natasha Tripney

Helena Kaut-Howson’s production of Lorca’s lyrical allegory, the second instalment of the Arcola’s ambitious Viva Lorca season, is a vibrant and atmospheric piece of theatre.

Kathryn Hunter plays the title character, a woman tormented by her childlessness. As her desperation to bear a son grows, she consults with local wise women and mystics, hungry for a solution but with each failure her grip on reality becoming ever more tenuous.

Kaut-Howson infuses this bleak premise with colour and music, drawing out the poetry of Frank McGuinness’ new version of the text. Her production is punctuated with striking set pieces, most notably a scene where a group of washerwomen slap their sodden laundry against the floor to the beat of the percussive backing music, sending arcs of water flying through the air.

The diminutive Hunter is superb as the disturbed Yerma, exuding desperation through her jerky, physical performance. Joy Elias Rilwan is also excellent as the life-loving pagan woman who tries to advise her. The cleverly choreographed final scenes - full of acrobatic African-influenced dancing and pounding drums - may distract from Lorca’s intended political allusions but nonetheless this remains a visually inventive, memorable and moving work.