Wow. I'm still shaking. This performance of The Seduction of Almighty God is one of the most intense productions you will ever see. Not once in its 90 minute duration does the pace drop as it races towards its tragically inevitable conclusion. This is a shining example of how theatre should be. Rarely in Oxford do you see such a challenging play performed with such aplomb, where fantastic performances and thoughtful direction work in harmony with the crucial (but sadly often neglected) aspects of theatre such as sound and lighting design.
The plot focuses on the boy priest Loftus during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. As the old world of divinity and morality collapses, Loftus struggles with his faith and tries in vain to stall the evolution into a new age of degeneracy and hypocrisy. Despite his seemingly God-given ability to kill those who represent the incoming era, such as government representatives and insurance men, the destruction of the abbey (which is symbolic of the traditional forms of religion) is inexorable.
Matt Ryan as Loftus is a revelation, with his stilted physicality and his jarring vocals perfectly conveying the many emotions of this multi-faceted character. Another great performance comes from Marley Morris as Cooter, who represents the hypocrisy and immorality of the modern age. But other superb performances abound in this highly talented cast, precisely directed by Alex Joseph, who has meticulously controlled the flow of the play to ensure that the peaks of intensity are as impactful as possible.
A word of warning, however: this play is not for everyone. Not only will its intensity and complexity deter some people, and some extremely graphic scenes in particular, but it is also highly stylised and non-naturalistic. But if you want a play that provokes discussion, is creative and original (at odds with most of Oxford drama), with brilliance across the board, then The Seduction of Almighty God is for you.
The plot focuses on the boy priest Loftus during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. As the old world of divinity and morality collapses, Loftus struggles with his faith and tries in vain to stall the evolution into a new age of degeneracy and hypocrisy. Despite his seemingly God-given ability to kill those who represent the incoming era, such as government representatives and insurance men, the destruction of the abbey (which is symbolic of the traditional forms of religion) is inexorable.
Matt Ryan as Loftus is a revelation, with his stilted physicality and his jarring vocals perfectly conveying the many emotions of this multi-faceted character. Another great performance comes from Marley Morris as Cooter, who represents the hypocrisy and immorality of the modern age. But other superb performances abound in this highly talented cast, precisely directed by Alex Joseph, who has meticulously controlled the flow of the play to ensure that the peaks of intensity are as impactful as possible.
A word of warning, however: this play is not for everyone. Not only will its intensity and complexity deter some people, and some extremely graphic scenes in particular, but it is also highly stylised and non-naturalistic. But if you want a play that provokes discussion, is creative and original (at odds with most of Oxford drama), with brilliance across the board, then The Seduction of Almighty God is for you.