Using the Greek myth as a spring board, Jennie Buckman's Pandora takes a nose dive.
Pandora, currently playing at Arcola Theatre, is a mixed bag of treats. Disappointingly, it's dwarfed in the vast space of Arcola's studio 1 where the characters await their audience in their various starting positions, lounging, watching and writing furiously. A multitude of screens envelope the stage, and among the various sets within lurk mounted TVs and laptops displaying a series of women with stories to tell.
Students of University of the 3rd Age wrote their own stories inspired by the legend of Pandora, and writer Jennie Buckman has weaved them together into a multi-layered display of human ills with an ever present undertone of hope. But it’s the multi-layered delivery that distracts from the delicate content of Pandora.
The screens show various women talking about their views on the themes in the tale of Pandora: men, women, misogyny, hurt and hope. Our eyes dart from wall to wall as they describe their own relation to Pandora – Zeus’ curse on the world – how they regard her and the pity they feel for her. This provides a sweet ode to Buckman’s students but is ultimately distracting and provides a tenuous link between the Greek myth and the stories playing out on stage. The women frequently point out an odd, funny fact about our own existence that raises a smile, sometimes a laugh from the audience. It makes me think their own speeches alone would provide a more real, more focused production than the one on stage.
The many stories in Pandora follow a middle-aged ex-civil servant with OCD who spends her time with her son and his childhood friend Jamie, who has been increasingly absent from their dull lives. It also explores Jamie’s mind after she may or may not have caused a traffic accident that killed four racists. Meanwhile, 10 year-old Cleo pens her own version of Pandora and wets the bed while her parents argue. Thrown into the mix are a couple on their wedding day and a woman in search of her missing daughter. The array of stories deal with the darker side of ageing, racial perceptions, domestic abuse and familial bonds, but without a clear narrative and with such a distracting set it’s difficult for the audience to be moved.
But there is some stand-out acting in this production. Sophie Stone as little Cleo is brilliantly endearing, and captures Cleo’s innocence, portraying her vulnerability with impressive ease. Kay Bridgeman plays multiple characters and succeeds in conveying the utter fear and disgust she has for her troubled husband. Pandora deserves credit for its rich, interesting characters but sadly they are lost in a mess of narratives.
Pandora runs at Arcola Theatre until June 12th.
Photo: Kay Bridgeman as Jamie.
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