HOT: The Revenger's Tragedy, National Theatre, Southbank

I'd never heard of Thomas Middleton but apparently he's England's Other Shakespeare. His play of revenge, sex and murder was dramatic and witty and included the requisite amount of gore. This updated version was very effective in seting the tone of debauchery, licentiousness and treachery, with its setting of gaudy velvet chairs, gothic techno beats and the tones of a soaring counter tenor. Of the actors, I think the dense text was best interpreted by Rory Kinnear as Vindice and Elliot Cowan as Lussurioso. Four stars.