THE TEMPEST: Shakespeare, Mansfield Palace till 31 March [then touring]
Mansfield/Touring.
THE TEMPEST
by William Shakespeare.
Palace Theatre Mansfield: Tkts 01623 633133 palacetheatre@mansfield.gov.uk
Runs: 2hr 30min One interval: till 31st March [Then touring].
Performance times: 7.30pm.
Review: Alan Geary: 27 March 2007.
Great showmanship but the text always shines through.
Director Barrie Rutter - he also plays Prospero - never misses an opportunity for unashamed showmanship in this Northern Broadsides production. Although the magical element in Shakespeare’s plot seems a bit muted, there’s directorial magic in virtually every scene.
Ariel is played to great effect by three women, a device that makes him more ubiquitous and visually important.
All the actors are also accomplished musicians; and drums, cello and xylophone take up a goodly chunk of the stage - at times it’s almost as if you’re watching a musical incorporating every known genre from sea shanty to moody jazz.
It’s a very funny evening. Rutter makes Prospero comic as well as manipulative; and the antics of a highly camp Trinculo [Conrad Nelson] teamed with the usually ratted Stephano [Simon Holland Roberts] are like being at a classy panto. Michael Hugo’s Caliban is intentionally more funny than anything else he’s intended to be.
Use of the Yorkshire accent - a Broadside trademark - ensures that the import of a text, which has, of course, moments of great beauty, is allowed to shine; and it’s always spoken with clarity and understanding. Anyone only semi-familiar with the play might consequently come away with previously undiscovered insights.
Alonso: Simeon Truby.
Sebastian: Phil Corbitt.
Prospero: Barrie Rutter.
Antonio: Mark Stratton.
Ferdinand: Matt Connor.
Gonzalo: Tim Barker.
Adrian/Francisco: Peter Troon.
Caliban: Michael Hugo.
Trinculo: Conrad Nelson.
Stephano: Simon Holland Roberts.
Miranda: Sarah Cattle.
Ariel: Nicola Gardner, Simone Saunders and Belinda Everett.
Director: Barrie Rutter.
Designer: Lis Evans.
Lighting: Daniella Beattie.
2007-03-28 16:06:07