National Theatre production of 'Phedre' to be broadcast at Capitol Theatre in Clearwater

By John Fleming, Times Performing Arts Critic
In Print: Thursday, July 9, 2009

In Phedre, Helen Mirren plays a queen who falls in love with her stepson, played by Dominic Cooper.

[National Theatre]

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Helen Mirren was brilliant in The Queen, and now she is playing another monarch in Phedre, Jean Racine's classic drama about the queen of Athens who falls madly in love with her stepson, with tragic consequences.

Great Britain's National Theatre is beaming its current production to theaters and performing arts centers around the world, and the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater is one of only a handful of venues in Florida where it can be seen. One of the most enticing aspects of the production is the translation of Racine's 17th century French into free verse by English poet Ted Hughes, who knew a thing or two about tragedy as husband of American poet Sylvia Plath when she committed suicide.

Phedre has screenings at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. $20. (727) 791-7400; rutheckerdhall.com or nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive.

John Fleming, Times performing arts critic

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