Studio II: A Lament for Medea

'A Lament for Medea' is Zecora and Urban Dolls's third shot at the Euripides tale in just under a year. And it's probably their best yet, which, sadly, doesn't very say much. The audience is led into the antechamber of the Arcola's studio space having removed shoes and socks. A maid chops an onion while we are led one-by-one into what is essentially a big black paddling pool. Medea is sat at one end in a wheelchair, a maid at the other and three chorus members sit amongst us.The piece itself consists of a few poorly delivered lines and some beautiful Balkan singing, leaving us and wondering why we've got our feet in a rather cold footbath while sodden teddies and plastic swords lap at our ankles. It never becomes particularly clear. The production is clearly interested in teasing out ideas of Medea as a sorceress and Other, but it gives itself virtually no time to do so and, with a largely third-rate, very earnest cast, hasn't the means to do so effectively.