Who better to figure as one of the two central figures of a play whose interpretation is strongly influenced by Antonin Artaud's theatre of cruelty than the Marquis de Sade?
David Grant's large-scale, ensemble version for the Lyric Drama Studio seeks earnestly to capture every nuance of the play's full title - The Persecution and Assassination of Jean- Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade. In this sophisticated, stylised piece of drama therapy, there is always the risk that the lunatics really will take over the asylum - unless, of course, sure and expert hands and a clear understanding of the play's still-relevant political intent are firmly brought to bear.
Thus, while Grant himself seems very sure of what he is about, the ultimate realisation, for all its concentration and self-discipline, falls outside the grasp of this hard-working group of studio players.
Spectacular to look at, thanks to Stuart Marshall's tricolour-strewn set and Heather Long's authentically-stained costumes, one is left uninspired by what is, undoubtedly, one of the most remarkable plays of our time.
