Powerful performances that mask the Bard missing a beat

Unfortunately, no amount of clever stagecraft can completely gloss over The Rape of Lucrece’s obvious shortcomings

Camille O’Sullivan in The Rape of Lucrece at the Gate Theatre Pic: Ste Murray

The Rape of Lucrece

By William Shakespeare

Gate Theatre, Dublin

Rating:***

The Rape of Lucrece begins on a deceptively gentle note. Camille O’Sullivan walks onstage with pianist Feargal Murray, provides a little background information about Shakespeare’s epic poem and smilingly confides, “Just to warn you, there may be some singing”. What follows is an exceptionally gruelling piece of theatre, deeply impressive in many ways, but far easier to admire than to love.

Although ...