THE WITCH, Middleton, RSC withWarwick Uni, One-Off Perf.
THE WITCH: Thomas Middleton.
RSC with Warwick University.
The Swan: 12 September (one performance).
Review: Rod Dungate 12 September 2002.
Sex, murder, jealousy, intrigue, disguise, incest, poisonings, abuse, black magic – and something to say.
We may in the past have enjoyed Dallas and Twin Peaks but Middleton rather got there first as his Jacobean The Witch demonstrates. It's all here – and in mighty abundance – sex, murder, jealousy, intrigue, disguise, incest, poisonings, abuse, black magic. Middleton splashes about delighting in his own sense of fun and invention, both subverting the conventions of his period and not entirely leaving behind his more serious considerations – righting gender inequalities, power, money.
Students from Warwick University, working with RSC directors and actors, presented a one-off performance after five long days of intensive workshop. The intensity of their experience releases an energy which supports Middleton's manic plotting, releasing a theatrical tone from the play it's not easy to catch on the page.
Of great importance are the eponymous witches – Middleton takes wicked pleasure in listing in great detail the ingredients they use. He also fleshes them out looking at the relationships between them and between them and the court. These are sexy and sexually open women, presided over by Jessica Harmer's tough cookie Hecate. She has a son, Firestone, source of much humour in Chris Tester's long-suffering hang-dog performance. A line from Hecate just about sums them all up as she berates her son for wanting to go off searching for a wench to get his leg over – 'You'd rather search out strange women than lie with your own mothers' – tut tut, outrageous.
Should we doubt, though, Middleton's serious intent, these young people play the irony of his ending with great clarity. The Duchess, instigator of plots and murder, may be forgiven them all because she hasn't actually committed real, honest-to-badness adultery.
The greatest theatrical moment is Ali Boucher's as hero Sebastian though disguised for much of the play. Towards the conclusion he reveals his true self: as he removes his heavy disguise (viz one pair of specs and a pencil moustache) the characters gasp with astonishment and the audience cheers with pleasure.
Duke: Paul Bhattacharjee (RSC Company).
Lord Governor: Jonathan Heron.
Sebastian: Ali Boucher.
Fernando: Alek Maxwell.
Antonio: James Anderson.
Aberzanes: James Rigby.
Almachildes: Ross Armstrong.
Gaspero: Keith Osborne (RSC Company).
Hermio: Chris Tester.
Firestone: Chris Tester.
Duchess: Molly Flatt.
Isabella: Emily Juniper.
Francisca: Jo Royce.
Amoretta: Steph Potschke.
Florida: Helen Toms.
Hecate: Jessica Harmer.
Stadlin: Claire Hilton.
Hoppo: Victoria Williams.
Hellawain: Joanna Howson.
Puckle: Megan Paul.
Other Witches: Briony Dupont, Charlotte Hunt, Josie Murphy.
Malkin: Amy Thornton.
An Old Woman: Briony Dupont.
Director: Heather Davies.
Design: Paul Clarke.
Lighting: Simon Spencer.
Music: Adrian Lee.
Movement: Sam Spencer-Lane.
Sound: Martin Slavin.
MD: James Jones.
2002-09-13 12:04:25