Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Four stars
The world has changed in
the decade since Jo Clifford first performed The Gospel According to Jesus,
Queen of Heaven, her trans reimagining of the gospels, and not always in a good
way. One of the better changes has been the way the play has travelled the
world in a multitude of languages and interpretations. The worst is how some of
those presenting the play have risked life and limb just by performing it.
Such was the case with
Renata Carvalho, when she opened Natalia Mallo’s production of Clifford’s play
in Brazil. A multitude of law suits and a new right wing government has made
any further performances there in the foreseeable future unlikely. This is an
undoubted travesty, as anyone lucky enough to witness Carvalho’s one-night-only
Glasgow date as part of a tenth anniversary mini-season celebration of Clifford’s
play will testify to.
Arriving onstage in a
jumble sale dress, carrying a vanity case and accompanied by the sort of club
sounds you might hear booming in Ryan Murphy’s trans-based TV drama, Pose,
Carvalho’s Jesus is a playful messiah, a waspish sprite who can raise herself
up to Heaven on the dancefloor as much as anywhere else. Performed in
Portuguese with English surtitles projected onto the back of the stage, there’s
a glorious force to Carvalho, who conspires with and confides in her
congregation with a gossipy candour.
Clifford’s script is
more prayer than play, staying faithful to its biblical source and translating it
into the sparest of poetry made in her own image. Carvalho takes this and runs
with it, donning a sparkly frock for the occasion as she brings the parables
bang up to date. When sharing the sacraments, she brings home the full physical
meaning of the devouring of the body and blood. It’s a meal served with joy,
and we lap it up with wonder.
The Herald, October 31st 2019
ends
Comments