Benedict Andrews stages an “Electra/Persona” double bill pairing Sophocles with Ingmar Bergman, starring Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss. Across the two nights, the actors take turns performing four roles apiece to create a mirrored comparison between the Greek tragedy’s themes of vengeance and Bergman’s focus on performance, silence, and identity.
The productions merge Sophocles’ Electra—about a daughter trapped in a cycle of retribution—with Persona (Bergman’s 1966 film) about a performer who stops speaking while portraying Electra. The Guardian describes the show as an intense, interval-free mashup that develops into a “disturbing” relationship between Bergman’s silent actor, Elisabeth, and her nurse, Alma. The Hollywood Reporter highlights the ambitious structure and the way the two performers’ shared lead parts illuminate cross-currents between the ancient and modern works.
While reviews emphasize different aspects—whether the balance of the two halves, or the overall ambition and thematic design—both outlets focus on Andrews’ use of a rotating lead-cast format and the thematic links created through the actresses’ alternating portrayals of paired characters.
