A defiled queen, mischievous gods, a splattering of poison and enough murderous intentions to please any Ancient Greek audience. The sentiments haven't changed much but in this 'Ion' two and a half thousand years of civilisation have been added: the gods are now superstars and the wall murals are television. 
      Apollo rapes the young princess Creusa ( Suzanna Hamilton) leaving her pregnant. She gives birth alone and not knowing what to do with the illegitimate offspring leaves him in a cave to die. However, the child, Ion (Sam Kenyon) is raised at the temple, unaware of his parentage. Through lies and misunderstanding this results in him becoming the sworn enemy of his own mother. 
      This production is beautifully translated from Euripides' original by Stephen Sharkey into accessible, Modern English. He maintains its humour and conveys the timeless comments on the human condition. The belief that one's own civilization is superior is just one theme, well explored by Creusa's ladies in waiting Chloe (Melissa Collier) and Daphne (Lara Marland) and the Old Tutor (Alfred Hoffman) who would all rather die than see the demise of Athens. 
      All of the characters begin the play as full and vulnerable but their ultimate journey into potential murderers did, at times, seem unbelievable. It jarred with the modern morals that the language belongs to. More emphasis could be put on the values of Ancient Greece as opposed to twenty first century values underpinning almost everything in the individual's behaviour. Nevertheless, this is an engaging and entertaining piece of theatre and a refreshing take on a classic work.
Elizabeth Shenton