A Kind of Electra

I loved this play so much! Saw it on Tuesday and seeing it again Sunday for the last show. See it before it inevitably sells out!

All the little details like the Greek scream that Electra does, the rocking back on her heels in rhythm when she prays to the cruel, capricious Gods that wreck her family, the amazing costumes...all these details help to situate it as an ancient cultural story, even as the characters feel so real and their motives understand. The clown aspect is also really cool--apparently the actors are primarily clowns who incorporate it into their work without overloading it.

Wow, I am still trying to process this one (seen this afternoon, the noon performance)!

I wanted "something different" from my usual Fringe offerings, and man, did this ever deliver. Greek myths are not typically my cup of tea, but I was vaguely familiar with this one, which is why I decided to go for it. The trio of actors performing this are insanely talented - body language, tone, costume changes, the works. The actor playing Electra in particular was outstanding, and unhinged in the best possible way. The staging is simple, but you can't look away.

I really hope this company returns to Edmonton, I'd love to see another show of theirs. If you are looking for a dramatic performance for the ages, definitely check this one out.

I originally left a review here yesterday that I wrote in a hurry while out and about between shows, but I kept thinking about this play all night and today so I wanted a do-over.

To contextualize my perspective, I'm mainly familiar with Anne Carson's translation of Electra in An Oresteia, which I love, so I came in ready to enjoy this. This play is an adaptation of Euripides’ Elektra, which to me is the whackier version of the story that I don’t know as well.

Firstly, I love an adaptation that isn’t afraid to make changes while still maintaining the essence of the original. This is a gripping adaptation with many recognizable passages translated into contemporary turns of phrase. That can be a thin line to walk, especially when it comes to classics, but they did a great job.

I am still thinking through the changes they did make. No spoilers, but I would love to see a review from someone who is more familiar with Euripides’ Elektra about the Iphigenia/Apollo/Clown elements because it was quite a big and unique change (which I loved). Having Iphigenia as a kind of chorus was also so so interesting considering how they adapted the ending. The layers!!!

Lastly, there are many very talented actors at the Fringr every year. I think the Electra in this play gives perhaps the best Fringe performance I've ever seen. The last time a Fringe actor's dramatic performance really really wowed me was for "Sea Wall" in 2023, and this is honestly leagues above that. I was basically captivated within the first 2 minutes of this actor coming on stage. I'm still thinking about their performance and I probably will continue to for a very long time.

I hope hope hope this company returns in the future. While improv and licensed IP continues to sell big at Fringe, and we seem to get more and more of those kinds of shows every year, I really want audiences to think about how challenging, creative works like this that don’t spoonfeed the audience are vital to our theatre landscape. This is not the kind of show that you laugh about on your way to the beer tent and forget a week later. This is something you can chew on for years to come.

A wonderful and hilarious telling of a Greek myth. A very captivating drama at the same time. The small cast each give very powerful performances and some amazing costume changes. This is one of the most see shows of the Fringe.

There are some fun anachronisms in the dialogue that really add to the performance! I wish I knew about this earlier so I would have had time to see it a second time.

"When we meet the title character (Caitlin Stasey) in this lacerating three-actor account of the Greek myth of Electra, she is a shocking sight, shrieking in psychotic rage, almost levitating. Her limbs barely belong to her.... Check out the full 12thnight review!

Amazing trio of actors. Electra is disturbing and compelling. Best dramatic performance I saw at the fringe this year!

A Kind of Electra is a gripping and electrifying theatrical experience that masterfully weaves together themes of revenge, family curses, and the weight of destiny. Rooted in Greek mythology, the story immerses its audience in a world where gods and mortals intertwine, where faith in the divine can both guide and torment, and where the legacy of family sins echoes through generations. From the opening moments, the performance draws you in with its powerful storytelling and layered characters. The play thrives on dramatic tension, building plot twist upon plot twist in a way that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat. Each revelation deepens the sense of inevitability, as though the audience itself is caught up in the ancient cycle of fate that defines the Greek tragic tradition. Revenge pulses at the heart of the show, but it is never one-dimensional, it is tangled with questions of justice, loyalty, and survival. The portrayal of royalty adds to the glory and the tragedy, reminding us of the fragile line between divine blessing and divine wrath. The gods loom large in the story, not as distant figures but as ever-present forces shaping the choices and destinies of the characters. The production doesn’t just rely on its story, the visual world is equally captivating. The costumes are a standout, rich in detail and authenticity, perfectly matching the setting and immersing the audience in a time where myth and reality blurred. Each design seemed to reflect both the impressiveness of royalty and the weight of family tragedy. Ultimately, A Kind of Electra is a breathtaking journey through myth, fate, and faith. It grips you with its twists and revelations, but what stays with you is the emotional depth and timelessness of its themes.

Bringing a classic Greek tale to life through this clowning lens just worked so well for me. All three performers had great physicality and were able to balance comedy with tragedy. There's some really beautiful staging imagery and lighting. I dont wanna ramble too much - no notes.

Great show!

I loved how the show was like a poetry in motion. Every move was synchronized, rhythms played out like drum beats of a folk song, and they used the space and lights beautifully. It was like a dance performance for me. All the actors are some of the best physical theatre performers you’d see at this festival. They move like planets aligning to tell you a cosmic tale of a great kind. This is the kind of play that mixes the traditional, the folk and the experimental - something that brings people to the ‘theatre’. Special mention to the actor who played Electra - she was ‘anger’ personified.

Hey! Hey you! Yeah, you, reading this.

See this show.

I say again. See. This. Show.

I don't want to spoil it, but I will say that this was one of the best Fringe productions I've ever seen. Moving, compelling, haunting, hilarious, heartfelt, horrifying... It's truly a work of genius and art.

The performances are all out of the world, the creativity is stellar, and you will leave feeling like you've been taken on the most wild of rides.

Trust me. Go see this show. It's a must see in an already stacked festival.

Wow! These actors can act! It’s vulgar, passionate, and gripping. The contemporary flourishes in a top-notch script give us an exciting new interpretation of the tragedy of Electra.

The raw emotion burns as Electra plots retribution against her mother for the murder of her father.

Highly recommended.

Greek tragedy is not for the faint of heart. It's bloody and violent and subject to the whims of wanton gods. A Kind of Electra is Greek tragedy for the 21st century. Exiled from her murdered father's palace and married to a farmer, the mad Electra plots revenge by invoking the gods. Her murdered sister Iphigenia accompanies Electra quietly. A visitor arrives, purporting to be a messenger from the dead brother Orestes. When Electra declares her desire for revenge, the visitor admits he is in fact the not so dead Orestes. Plans are laid and executed. Blood flows. When the train wreck can get no worse, Deus ex machina ensues. Superb acting and direction from this Los Angeles trio on their first trip to Edmonton. This is why we have Fringe.