<<  -- 7 --  David Wilkins    Plea for peace

Everyone calls for peace (or 'Peace' as its implied universality requires) and, as this is a comedy, they get it. There's a certain amount more arm-waving jollity before the end. The cast and chorus enter in their best clothes (a pacific creamy-white is favoured this season) and laurelled. Some chorus members prefer modern slacks and sweaters -- something about the timelessness of the message. The 'feelgood-factor' is always too easy a target for cynical critics so it must be stressed that this is not an unmoving conclusion. A couple of little kiddies in sailor-suits arrive to wave their Greek flags, a large group of Peace enthusiasts take over the side balconies to wave their coloured banners and, just when you thought that tweeness might have reached its apogee, a confetti of uplifting exhortations showers the audience from the roof.

There's a barrel-load of good intentions behind this work. There's a genuine feeling for the theatre that George Michailidis' direction caught in the spirit if not always in the detail. Much of the music is well worthy of attention and it was very ably performed by the Greek National Opera forces under Nikos Tsouchlos. The young Greek conductor, Vassilis Christopoulos, who takes over for some performances, is, by all accounts, equally adept at the task.

When Mikis Theodorakis strode, with stately humility, onto the stage for his curtain call, you couldn't help but respect the man and admire his achievement. And to think that the production will be moving into the territory of the old enemy for performances in Istanbul -- well, now there's a thought!