Half Man Half Bull: Theseus is a gig theatre production consisting of a cast of four, being shown at Venue 26, the Dissection Room in Summerhall. As the title suggests, it is the first part of a longer show; however, both Theseus and Daedalus can be enjoyed individually as standalone performances.
In the introductory spiel to their show, Alex Wright stated, “when we start, we go big” – a promise that the cast of four most definitely lived up to. Half Man Half Bull: Theseus tells the myth of Theseus, who promises his father, King Aegeus, that he will sail to Crete to defeat the half-man half-bull creature, the Minotaur. Aegeus instructs Theseus to raise white sails on his return if he is successful, but if he is slain by the Minotaur, the sails should remain black. In Crete, Theseus meets Ariadne, who provides him with a way to traverse the Labyrinth that the Minotaur dwells in.
In Theseus, rather than Theseus being a proud hero, Wright portrays him as a young adult seeking his father’s approval. Wright’s performance during ‘History Is Written By Those Who Win’ is exceptional – Theseus’s initial confusion about what the Minotaur had actually been like, followed by the resolve to turn himself into a “legend”. Phil Grainger’s performance as the Minotaur is flawless – everything about ‘The Minotaur’ is breathtaking, from Grainger’s voice to the way it is staged, with them in the dark except for a spotlight on Wright and Grainger standing back-to-back.
Aminita Francis is utterly captivating as they sing ‘Ariadne’, encouraging Wright’s Theseus to be their hero. Their later duet ‘This Isn’t A Thing’ is extraordinary, providing a unique twist on Ariadne’s departure from Theseus’ life, and Francis and Wright’s onstage chemistry throughout the production is fantastic, making it a funny and thoroughly enjoyable watch. Oliver Tilney’s delivery in ‘Lucky Little Dad’ is powerful as they tell the audience of Aegeus’s fate, which is (more often than not) a footnote when the myth of Theseus is told.
Half Man Half Bull: Theseus is a must-see for any fans of Greek mythology. The combination of spoken word and song makes for a unique show, and it explores many of the figures who are so often seen as side-characters in the myth of Theseus. It will make you laugh, and it will make you think – what more could you want from a Fringe show?
