ANDROCLES AND THE LION. To 5 September
London
ANDROCLES AND THE LION
by George Bernard Shaw
The Scoop In rep to 5 September 2004
Thu-Sun 3pm
Runs 1hr 15min No interval
Free performances
Review: Timothy Ramsden 7 August 2004
Plenty of open-air fun - but listen out for the serious ideas concealed within.Shaw has the afternoon shift at the Scoop, which on a hot day means sitting on baking stone steps under the sun's relentless glare. Still, at least there's no encounter with the lions and gladiators of GBS's playful look at belief - as English as can be, for all the early Christian settings.
In terms of expressing ideas, the piece might be called Ferrovius and Lavinia'. Stewart Alexander's imposing Ferrovius shows how he's become a converting legend around pagan Rome. Easily able to see off six gladiators, his mighty arm is only stilled by a cartoon-like effort at turning the other cheek. His reasoning how he can accept the offer of a place in the Emperor's Praetorian Guard is masterly comic argument.
Not that these mincing macho-men suggest gladiators were greatly to be feared off-Colosseum. There's a childish pet between the spear and net men, and they're only out-camped by Edward Jaspers' lion-keeper. He's straight from the ballet book of clichés, with tilted cigarette and flowing black, gold-flecked robe.
Bea Holland's clearly articulated Lavinia, the beautiful Christian (she's clearly taken with the handsome Captain's marriage offer) identifies the difference between faith as a nice idea and as the basis for action. When she declares, I am dying for something greater than stories or dreams, the verb is not being used idly. In a London with newly-sharpened emergency procedures, Lavinia effectively outlines the gap between faith as a pleasant-scented life accessory, and the driving-force that could lead to suicide-bombers.
Shaw re-distributes what should go to God and Mammon with close reasoning; Wilmott adds the fun and games, making comic distinction between Nicholas Osmond's officer-class Captain and Phil Sealey's NCO Centurion, and having fun with happy gospel-song singing and swinging. Writer and director seem made for each other.
Wilmott acutely reserves his full-size lion-puppet for the opening and closing. In the amphitheatre scene we see diminutive model lion and Androcles (Scott Harvey a convincing pre-echo of St Francis) distantly repeating the soft-paw shuffle of their first meeting with the injection of a sports commentary. Intelligent fun all round.
Megaera/Christian: Emma Manton
Androcles: Scott Harvey
Lavinia: Bea Holland
Centurion/Secutor the Gladiator: Phil Sealey
Captain: Nicholas Osmond
Ferrovius: Stewart Alexander
Spintho: Paul Critoph
Lentulus: Matthew Hodson
Metellus: Tom Hambleton
Coliseum Director: Nick Smithers
Emperor: Phil Wilmott
Retiarius the Gladiator: Joe Fredericks
Menagerie Keeper/Christian: Edward Jaspers
Christians: Kerry Skinner, Olivia Macdonald, Nicola Delaney, Amy Ip, Amy Rockson
Director: Phil Wilmott
Designer: Alex Marker
Lighting: Hansjorg Schmidt
Music/arrangements/Musical director: Joe Fredericks
Puppet design/direction: Yvonne Stone
Fights: Marcello Marascalchi, Chris McGill
Vocal coaching: Christopher Holt
2004-08-09 08:54:55