THE TEMPEST. To 12 February.

London

THE TEMPEST
by William Shakespeare

Southwark Playhouse To 12 February 2005
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 10am & 2pm 1,2,8,9 Feb 2pm 3,10 Feb
Runs 1hr 30min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7620 3494
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 January

Simply-staged, variably acted Tempest where the island residents impress most.Played simply, against white, diagonal screens allowing shadows and shadow-puppets to be used, this stripped-down Tempest retains all the storylines and characters, focusing on human relationships.

This makes the acting crucial and Tom Wright's cast make differing impacts. The comedy is laboured and unfunny while the shipwrecked conspirators are like naughty sixth-formers planning a malicious practical joke. Yet the silent mix of snigger and sneer with which Antonio meets Prospero's final (hardly gracious) forgiveness has a biting coldness.

There's more success among the long-term residents. It's hard luck on Linda Gathu that she's the tallest performer in an intimate, low-ceilinged space, hardly giving Ariel an airy effect. Over-use of bright smiles and open arms don't help, seeming more like a breezy tourist-guide on a dull morning than anything spirit-like.

Yet she achieves a startling moment when, for once unsmiling and composed, she tells Prospero she would, if human, have pity on the new-arrivals. For the first time he sees her as an independent being from whom he can learn, motivating his final fulfilment of Ariel's often-promised freedom.

Milo Twomey's a striking Caliban, with real grief at being dispossessed of his island by Prospero, and habituated acceptance of the punishments his outbursts provoke. This refusal to surrender memories of freedom gives a rare dignity to his conspiracy with Stephano and Trinculo.

Though wearing a dress, Hannah McBride's Miranda seems unaware of her sexuality until Ferdinand arrives, even then arguing over who'll carry the logs more like a friend than a lover. MacBride's Miranda has the freshness and dignity of someone brought up by a learned father without the social context that would define her.

Hilton McRae's Prospero (occasionally sounding forced at emotional climaxes but generally having a fine, easy way with the verse) is still in the thick of life; hurt by events of 12 years before, a fallible person, angry with himself for forgetting Caliban's conspiracy, shocked at hearing himself say every third thought will be his grave. His return home achieved, his daughter set to start her own adulthood, it's the first sign of mortality he's had.

Alonso: Paul Croft
Ferdinand: Philip Desmeules
Ariel: Linda Gathu
Sebastian/Trinculo: Greg Haiste
Miranda: Hannah McBride
Prospero: Hilton McRae
Antonio/Stephano: Colin Michael Carmichael
Caliban/Gonzalo: Milo Twomey

Director: Tom Wright
Designer: Jon Bausor
Lighting: David Holmes
Music Director: John K Miles
Assistant director: Jason Lawson

2005-02-03 10:24:54