The nature of Fringe limits shows which would excel as a 90 minute or two-hour production to a cruel 50 minutes, meaning a lot of meaning can be lost. Sadly, Salomé falls into this category. I have no doubt that if Oscar Wilde’s play could have been performed in full, lasting an hour and 50 minutes, it would have been the immersive exploration of female power that it is famous for. However, this performance of a classic text fell short of what it promised.
Wilde’s play explores the biblical subversion and twisted fate of female desire, so the 19th-century gothic church of Bedlam Theatre was an apt venue. With low lighting and a small but professional set, the staging was perfect for this one-act tragedy. Unfortunately, this abridged version did not flow quite as effortlessly – aspects of the text were cut, meaning the play lost subtle insinuations and moments of female power.
Salomé is a ‘modern’ take on the biblical myth of the same name, centring around the Princess of Judea and her unorthodox independence of mind. Clare Robinson (playing the title character) was formidable, accurately capturing the violence of the male gaze upon her body, whilst herself lusting after the prophet Jokanaan, and demanding his head in return for dancing for the king. She powerfully put across this twisted dynamic of female subservience to male demands.
With more time, the subtle transgression of Salomé from a beautiful princess into a woman of blasphemy and lust could have been further explored and developed. Furthermore, while the desired Princess was utterly convincing in her role, her fellow actors seemed rather half-hearted and tired by the production, surprising given its two-day run.
However, this short play was a rightful tribute to a play that has been lost in the years since its first performance. The essence of female passion was delivered beautifully by Robinson as the famous heroine.
Salomé is on at Bedlam Theatre at 3:30pm on 12-13 August. Tickets are available here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/salome.
Image provided to The Student as press material.