The Tempest. To 20 November.
Nottingham
THE TEMPEST
by William Shakespeare
Nottingham Playhouse To 20 November 2004
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat 11,17,18 Nov 1.30pm (plus Page to Stage Workshop 10.30am) 13 Nov 2.30pm
Audio-described 16,17 Nov 7.30pm
BSL Signed 19 Nov
Post-show talk 9 Nov
Runs 2hr 35min One interval
TICKETS: 0115 9419419
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Jen Mitchell 5 November
Impossible to classify and reputedly Shakespeare's final piece, this tale of revenge and magic continues to weave a spell across audiences. The tempest conjured up by Prospero is the beginning of a long awaited act of revenge. In a strong interpretation of the role by Clive Francis, this Prospero has a clear sense of purpose and vision that drives the action along.
The whole play is full of contrasts; nature against nurture, Prospero's good' magic against that of Sycorax, the evil witch who previously inhabited the island, the ethereal spirit of Ariel with the base character of Caliban. Contrasts that are all the more evident through the excellent interpretation of the characters.
The set is bare apart from the merest suggestions of Prospero's cell and other parts of the island. However a magnificent representation of a sail is flown in for the storm scene on board ship.
The production gathers momentum as Prospero's art creates a chain of events from which there is no turning back. The full extent of the conniving character of Antonio is revealed gradually, contrasting beautifully with the conceited, gullible Sebastian.
The comedy is played directly out to the audience and its lack of subtlety makes it hilarious. The character of Trinculo is literally a slapstick clown, even down to the comedy horn, with Stephano providing an excellent foil with his drunken, inflated sense of self-importance.
Grotesque, base and truly animalistic, Michael Melia's Caliban is superb, showing a product of nature who can describe his island home in the most poetic terms and yet demonstrate an essentially base character. He emerges from what appears to be a series of tunnels under the stage and his rantings range from the pitiful to the truly frightening.
The spirit Ariel dances and leaps across the stage with particularly stylised movements appearing to have an almost puppet like quality to his movements. It is revealing then that when Prospero finally frees him, the wires to which he has been attached throughout most of the play are removed. No longer Prospero's puppet, he once again become a free spirit.
Ariel: Matthew Bugg
Ferdinand: Matthew Chambers
Boatswain: Liam E Chamlie
Trinculo: Graham Crammond
Alonso: Kern Falconer
Prospero: Clive Francis
Miranda: Eilidh Macdonald
Antonio: Michael Mackenzie
Stephano/Sebastian: Rod Matthew
Caliban: Michael Melia
Spirit/Iris: Jean Marc Perret
Gonzalo: David Terence
Spirit/Juno: Danielle Young
Director: Richard Baron
Designer: Ken Harrison
Lighting Designer: Mark Pritchard
Composer & Sound Designer: Jon Beales
Movement Director: Rita Henderson
2004-11-08 00:46:28