Review: CHEKHOV INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL IN MOSCOW PRESENTS ELECTRA IN THE UNDERWORLD at Mossovet Moscow Theatre

This year Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow welcomed ÉLECTRE DES BAS-FONDS (Electra in the Underworld) - the show initially premiered in legendary Théâtre du Soleil in 2019 and directed by an acclaimed actor and theatre director Simon Abkarian. Abkarian is a former member of the famous Ariane Mnoushkine's theatre company. In his production the director revisited Greek mythology, mixing several myths about Electra and Orestes, and produced an original story representing different cultures and traditions, showing actors in Indian costumes, using Japanese music etc. Those unexpected eclectic pieces made the show more unconventional and universally conceivable. In a short interview Abkarian underlined that this is a contemporary version of Greek tragedy. The director rewrote the whole story, it is no more about revenge and more about sacrifice and survival in a man's world.

The production is accompanied by live music performers playing mandolin, ukulele, banjo, bouzouki, while the action on stage could remind the spectators of some incredible spiritual practice. Electra choses to fight and remain an outcast: this is the only existing way for her, this character (played by Aurore Frémont) is a woman trying to protect herself. ''Electra in the Underworld'' has already won three Molières, one of the most prestigious theatre awards in France - in Best Show, Best Work of a Living Francophone Author, Best Stage Direction nominations, while Aurore Frémont, who played Electra, was declared ''the theatrical discovery of the year''. Abkarian's interpretation of Electra myth is an amazing theatre performance with strong female characters. It would be fair to say that this show is full of feminist touches, whereas the silence that lasted for thousands of years is the central idea of this production.