The Hollow Crown. To 19 March.

Stratford-upon-Avon

THE HOLLOW CROWN
devised by John Barton

Royal Shakespeare Theatre To 19 March 2005
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 609 1110
www.rsc.org.uk
Review: Jan Pick 3 March

Court in the Act.While the loss of Vanessa Redgrave as Hecuba is regrettable, there is the compensating joy of seeing four great actors take the stage at Stratford and (with the considerable assistance of guitarist Stephen Gray) entertain their audience for over two hours with The Hollow Crown - a jaunt through the Kings and Queens of England performed, with a finely balanced mixture of cynicism, pathos and wit, by Alan Howard, Richard Johnson, Donald Sinden and Harriet Walter.

Originally devised by John Barton in 1961, The Hollow Crown provides a fascinating insight to the perennial problems of kings, queens and princes, their unsuitable spouses, mocking subjects and untimely ends. A reminder, if one was needed, that there is nothing new in the troubles of our present monarchy.

Among the gems strung out before us in a sparkling evening, Harriet Walter's rendition of Jane Austen's irreverent and jaundiced view of the Tudor reign is a delight, as is Donald Sinden's ironic reading of a love letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Alan Howard gives a wonderfully timed and funny account of Walpole's description of the funeral of George II, obviously relishing the sonorous Scottish tones of James I's polemic against the iniquities and dangers of tobacco.

Richard Johnson opens the evening with the speech from Richard II which gives the title to this performance anthology and shares with Howard the cynical account of a king's courtship - oh the suffering endured by royals entering into loveless marriages for the sake of duty!

There is a serious side Walter's reading of the letter from Ann Boleyn to Henry, written from the Tower of London being deeply moving and a description of the extremely nasty death of Edward II sending a shiver up the spine.

Stephen Gray's musical contribution adds greatly to the entertainment, particularly the Scottish ballad on George IV's visit to Edinburgh (where he also treats us to a special glimpse of socks in dire need of darning).

A welcome then for these RSC alumni, for whom the much maligned RST stage holds no fears, providing a fascinating evening that is not only relevant for our times, but great fun.

Cast: Alan Howard, Richard Johnson (Clive Francis 9,10 March), Donald Sinden, Harriet Walter
with Stephen Gray

Director: John Barton
Designer: Louise Belson
Lighting: Robert Bryan
Music compiled and arranged by Martin Best
Assistant director: Corinne Beaver

2005-03-08 13:29:23