The life of excess: a path chosen by few, but which intrigues many. The ‘celebrity’ autobiography epitomises a desire to absorb ourselves in others overindulgence and extreme living, without performing any of these acts personally. There is an appeal to living by ones baser instincts and doing as we please, but the reality of life kicks in and we are bound by rules and regulations. Where to turn then but to the guardian of these instincts, half-man half-god, he is Onysos, and he has lived a long life of intemperance and longs to tell his furious tale.
                 
On a bench in a New York subway platform, filthy and supping from can after can of beer, Onysos (Chris Porter) has grown old. It is 2000AD, but he has walked the earth since primitive times. Here he tells the story of his beginnings from Babylon to Troy, Egypt to Jericho and the fulfilling of his desires to kill, drink, dance, make war, make men fear him and make woman tremble around him.

The myth of Dionysus is one well explored in the theatre, but this one-man show, adapted from award-winning playwright Laurent Gaudé’s original, gives new life to the well worn legend. His narrative tells that living a life of taking what you want when you want does not satisfy, but what could satisfy a man blessed yet cursed to live forever. The language is rich and vibrant, coupled with subtle changes in lighting states, and maximum use of the playing space, it transports the audience into the moments of his past where you can almost taste the Nile water on your lips. What lets this production down are the poor sightlines from the audience in Traverse Three, As the play at times takes place on the floor and at lower levels, an obstructed view interferes with the enjoyment of the piece and disengages from the action. This aside, Onysos the Wild is a solid piece of theatre and an interesting reinvention of a classic tale, just sit at the front if you want to see it all.

Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street (0131 228 1404)
Running Time: 1hr15mins

Preview Aug 2: 18:30 £8 (£4.50U)
Aug 3, 8, 12, 17: 20:30, Aug 4, 9, 13, 18: 13:30, Aug 5, 10, 15, 19: 16:00,
Aug 6, 11, 16, 20: 18:30, Aug 22, 26: 20:00, Aug 23, 27: 12:30,
Aug 24: 15:00, Aug 25: 17:30

Tickets: £12.50 (£9) (£4.50U)