THE SCARLET LETTER

Chichester

THE SCARLET LETTER
by Phyllis Nagy adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Minerva Theatre In rep to 8 September 2005
Runs 1hr 55min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 August

Vivid performances in an adaptation that’s marked by its origins.
Choosing an adaptation of an American novel not central to most British readers’ attention, and dealing with adultery from a female perspective, both fits this year’s Con-artist theme at Chichester and indicates a willingness to range beyond the familiar.

Phyllis Nagy’s production of her own adaptation doesn’t fully lose the sense of its non-dramatic origins, working better in individual confrontations than overall narrative development. The layout of Peter McKintosh’s set, with its raised areas, reinforces this point.

Looming over the characters are the pillory and gallows of early Puritan Boston, where Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel is set. It’s a black-and-white world where the scarlet ‘A’ (for adultery) Hester Prynne has to wear sticks out like a sore. So would her child Pearl, if half what she says were heard by the neighbours. Pearl offsets the patient acceptance Elizabeth McGovern’s Hester shows by outspoken criticism, at times directly to the audience. But it’s unclear how much of the outspoken feeling comes from the child speaking out as an advanced feminist consciousness, how much from the impact of (highly capable) adult actor Katherine Tozer speaking for, without pretending to create, a 7-year old.

There are strong, contrasting performances from Jo Stone-Fewings as the educated Rev Dimmesdale, maintaining his own secret while seeking to keep up his public position with smiling reason, and Alan Williams as the husband from Hester’s past, seeking her out, all blunt directness with nothing to hide.

Barry McCarthy provides a welcome infusion of humour (without becoming comic relief) as the common-sense working-man in this play of heightened or obsessed consciences, while Zoe Waites is a model of middle-class judgmental refinement. Martin Duncan’s Governor seems only to want to wave problems and complexities away, which he does with ever-jiving hands and camp dismissive tones.

Being American, Nagy doubtless wrote her adaptation for audiences more thoroughly aware of Hawthorne’s novel. It seems to expect this knowledge as background to the close-focus scenes. This dints its impact at Chichester, while still leaving an impression of how far forward this theatre’s moved in the 3 year term of its departing artistic trio.

Hester Prynne: Elizabeth McGovern
Pearl: Katherine Tozer
Rev Arthur Dimmesdale: Jo Stone-Fewings
Roger Chillingworth: Alan Williams
Mistress Hibbins: Zoe Waites
Governor Bellingham: Martin Duncan
Master Brackett: Barry McCarthy

Director: Phyllis Nagy
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Lighting: Paul Pyant
Sound: Gareth Fry
Season Installation Designer: Ashley Martine-Davis
Assistant director: Thomas Hescott

2005-10-24 19:16:18