ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL: till 24 April
ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL: William Shakespeare
RSC The Swan (Tkts 0870 609 1110)
Runs: 3 h, one interval: The Swan till 7 February, Gielgud, London, till 24 April
Review: Rod Dungate, 11 December 2003
Gentle, highly atmospheric production of a quirky playGregory Doran creates a marvellously atmospheric production of this tricky play. From the very opening words from Judi Dench (Countess of Rossillion): 'In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband', in Stephen Brimson Lewis's set framing the action with deep woodland greens, the play is imbued with a great sadness. This effect is heightened by the relaxed, measured delivery of the text When we reach the reconciliations at the play's conclusion we feel the happiness is only a temporary respite.
However, this strength highlights the plotting which feels clockwork, Shakespeare plotting by numbers we feel. Characters are often formulaic and there are enough letters used to drive the plot to rocket the Royal Mail's profits sky high. Devices stitched together to make a barely unified whole.
Lovely to see Judi Dench play the Countess. She is quiet, authoritative, her marvellously centred playing draws our attention. When the Countess speaks it is in the knowledge others will listen, but she listens to others too her kindness is palpable. Deep emotions are felt (the loss of her husband, the drama between her real son and her adopted daughter) but these are painfully held in check. When she greets Helena at the end of the play there is a long, gentle, firm hug: it lasts and lasts and is a lasting image from the production.
There is a feeling that Helena also holds her emotions in check perhaps she learned this from the Countess? Difficult to convince us of this much put-upon young woman who stands by her man throughout (however big a prat he is.) But Claudie Blakley's simplicity carries the day: we believe her, believe in her, without question.
These two women put Rossillion firmly in the centre of the play we can't wait to return there. The Countess becomes the still, safe point about which all else ineffectually pivots.
Jamie Glover plays Bertram with great gusto and Guy Henry wrings out all the humour possible from Parolles. Charles Kay is particularly worth watching as Lord Lafeu precise, quick witted, the kind of person you'd feel comfortable with looking after your affairs.
Countess of Rossillion: Judi Dench
Bertram: Jamie Glover
Helena: Claudie Blakley
Parolles: Guy Henry
Lavache: Mark Lambert
Rynaldo: Arthur Kohn
King of France: Gary Waldhorn
Lord Lafeu: Charles Kay
The tow Lords Dumaine: Miles Richardson/ Oliver Senton
A widow: Jane Maud
Diana: Shelley Conn
Mariana: Aimee Cowen
Violenta: Sarah Jane Wolverson
Morgan: Brendan O'Hea
Soldiers: Tim Delap/ Chris Geere
Gentleman Astringer: Colm Gormley
Director: Gregory Doran
Set design: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Costume design: Deirdre Clancy
Lighting: Paul Pyant
Music: Paul Englishby
Movement: Michael Ashcroft
Sound: Tim Oliver
Music Director: Bruce O'Neil
Voice work: Lyn Darnley and Charmian Hoare
Assistant director: Aileen Gonsalves
2003-12-14 14:10:50