Giles Woodforde is impressed by a steamy production of John Ford's 17th century masterpiece

Declan Donnellan and his Cheek by Jowl theatre company are terminally incapable of producing anything dull, so it was little surprise that their production of ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore set the Playhouse alight when it visited Oxford a couple of years ago. Now it’s back for another week.

The play’s storyline is every tabloid editor’s dream: Giovanni (Orlando James), newly returned from university, can’t wait to bed his own sister Annabella (Eve Ponsonby) – although he does, to be fair, pause briefly to take advice from a Friar (Raphael Sowole). The words of Godly wisdom are ignored however, and there’s an eager strip to the undies on both sides – she is more than willing.

That’s followed by much activity beneath bright crimson sheets on a king-sized double bed – designer Nick Ormerod sets all the action in Annabella’s red-painted bedroom, adding greatly to the steamy Italian atmosphere of the entire production. The Church apparently hasn’t entirely given up hope of influencing Giovanni, and rescuing him from his disastrous sexual desires however, for as the relationship with Annabella is consummated a Latin Corpus Christi prayer is sung by an ensemble chorus, which has voyeuristically crept into the bedroom.

Meanwhile, Giovanni and Annabella’s father, perhaps realising that things are not quite as they should be, decides to introduce Annabella to a few potential suitors. In one of the production’s several comic moments, two hopeful gentlemen instantly display their finely honed chests, while a third remains buttoned up in his tailored suit, his ardour shown only by a single red rose clenched between his teeth. In the end Annabella fatefully selects Soranzo (Maximilien Seweryn), a man with a very violent temper.

Director Donnellan has slashed John Ford’s original 17th-century play, leaving a supercharged production that runs straight through in two hours with no interval. The action is continuously fluid and always riveting to watch. Yes, at times you do think you’ve seen enough writhing male torsos for one evening, but then this is a play in which the word “lust” appears many times. Dance and a varied music track featuring everything from disco to jaunty Italian pop (Peter Moreton) are expertly woven into the overall picture. Ensemble acting is fully up to Cheek by Jowl’s high standards.

The production hammers home the point that “Eroticism opens the way to death,” to quote author Georges Bataille. But you’re certainly offered a colourful theatrical experience along the way.

‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore
Oxford Playhouse
Until Saturday
Call 01865 305305 or visit oxfordplayhouse.com