THE ISLAND PRINCESS: Fletcher, RSC Swan Stratford till 14 Sept. Then Newcastl
THE ISLAND PRINCESS: John Fletcher
Swan, Stratford till 14 Sept. mat
Runs: 2h 50m, one interval
Tkts: 0870 609 1110
then Newcastle-upon-Tyne Playhouse in rep 8-12 October 2002
Tkts (Newcastle) 0870 905 5060
Review: Rod Dungate, 2 July 2002
A vital contemporary plea for religious tolerance raised by a play in an unusual and intriguing historical setting.
Patience is a virtue we are told: it's a well-worth-having one watching THE ISLAND PRINCESS. The first half is interesting enough, but the second half suddenly bursts into flame in a thrilling, totally engaging debate about religious and cultural tolerance. The Island King concludes the play after a war fuelled by religious bigotry in words that we should keep in mind at all times: 'Come friends and lovers all . . ./ No more guns now, nor hates, but joys and triumphs, / And universal gladness fly about us: / . . . the gods give peace at last.' Contemporary parallels are real and obvious.
The play as a whole centres around a group of Portuguese adventurers in 'Indonesia': there's a beautiful Princess who offers her hand to the man who can rescue her brother, the King, held prisoner by villain Governor of Ternata. The Princess is, purportedly, in love with Portuguese Captain, Ruy Dias, who hesitates to effect the rescue: it's carried out by dashing young Armusia. The Governor seeks revenge for his humiliation and, disguised as a holy man, stirs up a religious war. Peace is restored only after his trickery is uncovered.
The first half is a swash-buckling kind of entertainment. The main interest lies in Fletcher's sympathetic representation of an alien culture. He shows two cultures (Christian and Pagan) mixing happily and sociably. (Fletcher's paganism is a thin disguise for Islam.) It is Michael Matus's performance as the Island King that holds most of the interest here: among the loud laddishness of the Portuguese men, the peacock preening of Indonesian nobles (Joe Dixon's Bakam is a comic delight), he is quiet, still, hypnotic and totally dignified. The play owes much of its power to the dignity that Fletcher builds into this character – beautifully realised by Matus.
As Fletcher winds his plot tighter in the second half through the growing love between the Princess and Armusia, through the villainous Governor's scheming. you are pulled emotionally into the play. Jamie Glover's Armusia is a good man, highly energised, sexually charged. Sasha Behar's Quisara, the Island Princess, is a creature of opposites - youthful and adult, coquettish and dignified. As the love between them develops you feel for them – you are emotionally split by the religious hatred that threatens to destroy them. But your care is double-edged: you feel frustrated by the inflexibility of religious dogma. Time and again Fletcher returns to this theme: the Princess' waiting woman says: 'methinks Religion should teach more temperate lessons.'
Paul Bhattacharjee plays the wicked governor with great glee, delighting in his wickedness as one might playing a pantomime villain. But the parallels with, say, Afghanistan are too close for comfort, the play's satire strikes home. Raising the cultural hatred he says of the invaders, that they 'Grew rich and powerful, sucked the fat and freedom of this most blessed Isle, taught her to tremble.' Although we hate him for what he is doing we have to admit he's got a valid argument.
Greg Doran directs all with precision and great clarity. He has done well to see the contemporary importance of this play. It's an enlightening addition to the present engrossing Swan season.
Ruy Dias: David Rintoul
Pyniero: Antony Byrne
Christophero: Keith Osborn
Pedro: James Tucker
Armusia: Jamie Glover
Soza: Billy Carter
Emanuel: Ben Kicks
King of Tidore: Michael Matus
Quisara: Sasha Behar
Quisana: Claire Benedict
Panura: Shelley Conn
Governor of Ternata: Paul Bhattacharjee
King of Bakam: Joe Dixon
King of Syana: Avin Shah
Keeper: Vincent Brimble
Captain: Sean Hannaway
Director: Greg Doran
Design: Niki Turner
Lighting: Wayne Dowdeswell
Music: Adrian Lee
Sound: Martin Slavin
2002-07-03 11:07:36