PERICLES. To 24 August.
London
PERICLES
by William Shakespeare
Bubble Theatre Company To 24 August 2002
Three Mills Island E3 13-17 August 7.30pm
Dulwich Park 20-24 August 7.30pm
Runs 3hr One interval
TICKETS 020 7237 1663
Review Timothy Ramsden 10 August at Oxleas Woods
A skilfully-managed voyage round a South London park, and through a clearly-told, lesser-known Shakespearean adventure.Bubble mirror Shakespeare's shaggy dog adventure, which puts Pericles, Prince of Tyre through a lifetime's loss and reunion, by taking audiences on a journey round one of London's open spaces. Tramping with impedimenta (Bubble thoughtfully provides free use of rug, stool or chair) gives time for numerous conversations trying to sort out who's who and what they're doing.
At hilly Oxleas, we watched a shipwreck on a rolling stage and, after dark, descended into a wooded glade to find the bright lights of the Panders' Mytilene brothel garishly waiting to swallow up the Prince's virginal daughter Marina.
Jonathan Petherbridge realises what's called for is clarity, rather than interpretative subtlety. The script's spoken clearly and audibly, while Eric MacLennan's narrating Gower carries, like a hurried commuter, an open briefcase which empties only as the story unfolds its own contents. MacLennan's a friendly guide, coaxing us to move, cueing our cheers and applause for the knightly contest at Pentapolis and turning us into the horse and crowd effects for the tournament.
Simon Startin's Pericles is forceful and grave, if a little thick-voiced in his final, aged appearance. Jane Allighan is a forcefully jealous Dionyza, Polly Nayler's Marina shows realistic distress alongside her moral assertion when cast into a brothel. Thomas Johnson's music, played by an instrumentally versatile musical duo, repeatedly intensifies scenes: discords in plague-ridden Tarsus, mellifluous clarinet and accordion in celebrating Pentapolis, nervy plucked 'cello in libidinous Mytilene.
There's a beautiful moment when Allighan's white-clad Diana arises, unearthily spotlit against the now-black foliage, and the staging can give sudden thrills: Pericles moving from his rediscovered daughter Marina to embrace Mytilene's governor Lysimachus – leaving Marina alone, watching, able to tell if she wanted how Lysimachus first came to her in his city's brothel.
And there's a surely unique touch. In the still-warm, sunset start, as MacLennan's Gower introduces play and action, he's repeatedly interrupted by an enthusiastic Allighan. Three hours later, in the chilly candle-lit dark of Diana's Temple, Gower's last line is interrupted by her secret whisper to finish things off. It's a touching moment, emphasising the co-operative nature of group story-making.
King Antiochus/King Simonides/Philemon/Pander: Richard Youman
Antiochus' Daughter/Marina/Lychorida: Polly Nayler
Gower/Thaliard: Eric MacLennan
Pericles: Simon Startin
Helicanus/Leonine/Ephesian/Boult: Richard Oldham
Escanes/Cleon/Cerimon/Lysimachus: Jonathan Kemp
1st Lord/Dionyza/Ephesian/Diana: Jane Allighan
Thaisa/Bawd: Sam Adams
Musicians: Sara Moody, Luke Stoneham
Director: Jonathan Petherbridge
Designer: Janis Hart
Illuminator: Neil Gavin
Composer: Thomas Johnson
Movement: Linda Dobell
2002-08-11 12:48:04