Oedipus

Jonathan Kent's dark revival is dominated by men in suits with Ralph Fiennes as the CEO who is determined to purge the business of toxic debts. And he's the man for the job, as he tells the chorus, a solidly male, elderly bunch who, in between individual utterances, burst into liturgic-like song. The combination of song and speech is a remarkable innovation and for once the chorus aren't the usual embarrassment. With the hubris of Oedipus, Kent throws down a challenge to the audience, defying it to laugh despite the operatic pitch at which the play is performed. When it works, as it largely does, the result is electrifying.