PERICLES: Shakespeare, RSC Stratford, till 2 November
PERICLES: William Shakespeare
RSC: Main House, Stratford
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval, till Sat 2 Nov (mat)
Performances in repertoire, eves 7.30, mats 1.30
Tickets: 0870 609 1110
Review: Rod Dungate, 15 August 2002-08-16
Throw away your cynicism; this is a magical mystery tour of endless delights.It's witty, romantic, truly magical; all the things director Adrian Noble said he wanted to achieve in his production. It's often seen as a difficult play, even ramshackle, and Noble has worked on the text to clarify it. For the most part he's achieved a marvellous result: it's still easy to get a bit lost as Pericles and his family split and move from one kingdom to another – but what the hell! it's wonderful stuff.
Noble and his team present a giant story – even the play is in story-telling mode. Shakespeare in this late work seems to be trying to reach the child-like heart in all of us. Capturing this naïve tone completely the company offer a captivating spectacle of a play. Its episodic form becomes its strength as the story unfolds in great waves of dance, fighting, acrobatics, song and, crucially, emotion.
As children we don't question resolutions that are to do with sleeping beauties waking up, long-lost daughters discovered, good always winning over evil. As adults we become too worldly wise – throw away your cynicism, Ray Fearon's Pericles will take you on a magical mystery tour.
Ray Fearon (Pericles) possesses a mercurial changeability and uses it to great effect. Morose in Pentapolis, he is cheered by the King's daughter, Thaisa – his smile lights up his whole body, the court and us. His reunion with his daughter (he thinks she's dead) is truly moving. Kananu Kirimi's Marina is beautiful – calm, open, vulnerable: it is indeed possible she could melt the heart of the most dastardly of villains. Together in their reunion there is a heart-rending electricity generated as they turn the story's implausibility into the characters' wonderment.
Noble's production offers an endless stream of delights – Diana's aerial dream appearance (magical), 'show' fights (swashbuckling), lighting (hauntingly atmospheric). On top of these terrific performances: to pick out two – Olwen May's Bawd – just think of her as Mrs Brothel - is deliciously disgraceful and Jude Akuwudike's Cerimon, the doctor who revives Pericles's 'dead' wife. Cerimon holds us in his palm with his poetic gentleness.
Gower: Brian Protheroe
Pericles: Ray Fearon
King Antiochus/Pandar: Geff Francis
His Daughter/Lychorida/Prostitute: Sirine Saba
Thaliard/Lord/Sick Lord: James Staddon
Messenger/Fisherman: Felix Dexter
Helicanus: Roger Frost
Lord/Pirate/Servant: James Hyland
Cleon: Keith Bartlett
Dionyza: Myra Lucretia Taylor
Marina: Kananu Kirimi
Leonine/Lord: James Telfer
Pirate/Knight/Sailor: Dan Crute
Servant/Gentleman: James Garnon
Fishermen: Jerome Willis
Fisherman/Sailor/Gentleman: Dylan Charles
King Simonides: Rolf Saxon
Thaisa: Lauren Ward
Marshall/Pirate/Servant: Jami Quarrell
Knight/Sailor: Alan Turkington
Ladies: Fiona Lait, Olwen May
Shipmaster/Lysimachus: Tom Beard
Cerimon/Knight: Jude Akuwudike
Philemon/Lady/Nun: Gracy G Goldman
Boult/Knight: Simon Gregor
Bawd/Lady/Nun: Olwen May
Diana, Lady, Prostitute: Fiona Lait
Director: Adrian Noble
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Lighting: Jean Kalman
Sound: Mic Pool
Music: Shaun Davey
Music Director: John Woolf
Movement: Sue Lefton
Fights: Malcolm Ransom
Dialect Coach: Charmian Hoare
Company voice work: Lyn Darnley, Andrew Wade
Aerial Adviser: Gavin Marshall
2002-08-16 12:38:47