One of the best things any show or piece of art can do to draw attention to itself is to cause some sort of fuss. In the theatre we used to enjoy riots, sometimes now we even get the odd protest, but mostly discord stems from the blue-rinse brigade getting up in arms that there’s no Cornettos left at interval. However, this year’s International Festival has landed with a bang, with the opening night closing at the interval due to ‘technical problems’. As the saying goes ‘all press is good press’ and at the moment Troilus and Cressida is the talk of theatre town.

Seven years since Paris stole Helen away from Menelaus, and the Greeks are still on the Trojan shores attempting their revenge. Inside the gates of Troy and Troilus is attempting his wooing of Cressida. Both Greeks and Trojans are restless with the situation, and Hector issues a challenge of single combat to any Grecian willing. Also unknown to both Troilus and Cressida, she has been promised to the Greek lord Diomedes in return for a prisoner of war. Battles of the heart and battles of pride rage on both sides, but can there ever be a winner in Shakespeare’s tragedies?

Having finally seen this production the whole way through betters the opinion of it. Whereas the first half is slow and dramatically paced with the emphasis on words rather than actions, the second half is, for the most part, a balancing of the two, at times even meandering a little too much into action. The ‘technical difficulty’ which ceased the production was the nuisance Wall of Troy, which adds a much needed lift to the second half as it moves and is fought upon, transforming a flat playing space much better than the pervy bed which floated (or clunked noisily) in from the roof during the first half. Stein’s direction does attempt to acknowledge the gay-area so oft overlooked when concerning the Greeks, however mincing men in chiffon and thongs is more homoerotic than a serious take on things. The actors are a pleasure to watch in the roles the have been cast, and keep this otherwise clunky production moving along. If you like men in tight pants, and wordy poetry then this may just be your cup of tea.

Kings Theatre, Leven Street (0131 529 6000)
Aug 14-15, 17-21, 23-26: 19:00 (3hrs30mins) from £7
Aug 15, 19, 24, 26: 13:00 (3hrs30mins) from £7