Marivaux revival at Technis
A play written in 1730 is enjoying something of a ressurection in present-day Athens. I had come to see a new staging of Marivaux’s «Jeu de l’amour et du hasard» (The Game of Love and Chance) at the Technis Theater, perhaps in order to immerse myself in something completely antithetical to modern sensibilities. Marivaux is always Marivaux – the witty banter and flirtation in his plays are the driving force, while the various pairings between diverse social classes serve as their flame. The production at the Technis Theater overflows with vitality, even though, at first, the gorgeous costumes by Yiannis Metzikof vie for your attention with the lyricism of Yiannis Varveris’s translation. Very soon, however, the songs (by Kostas Kakogiannis) and choreography (by Sophia Spiratou), performed so charmingly by the cast, soon draw you into their family atmosphere. The arranged match, which will only come about if the couple (Efi Logginou and Othonas Metaxas) fall in love with each other, is the axis around which the play unfolds. The audience is kept in the know while the characters constantly change and mask their emotions. Evis Gavriilidis satisfies the audience by giving them a classic, witty and well-oiled performance with some unexpectedly good acting. As I left the theater, I felt as if I had seen a show that respected its audience. Technis Theater, 14 Frinichou, tel 210.322.2464.
