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Oxfordprospect |
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31 July 2010
The Tempest
"William Shakespeare's The Tempest performed by the Oxford
Shakespeare Company in Wadham College Gardens, with music
by Nick Lloyd Webber."
By: Julia Gasper - NOW ON: 9 June - 30 August 2010 Oxford Tickets: 01865 305 305 This production of Shakespeare’s last major play is fast, bold, full of action and only slightly marred by eccentricities that will not stop the majority of people from enjoying it. It uses experimental music and sound to meet to create the strange, magical atmosphere demanded by the play, combining this with a certain amount of light-hearted fun. Both the story and the comedy have survived the somewhat drastic cuts of director Mick Gordon, although it must be admitted that the masque of the three goddesses has been ditched in favour of a quick song, and Prospero’s stern speech to Ferdinand, his prospective son-in-law, about the perils of pre-marital sex, has been fearlessly axed. So have his frequent questions about the exact time which recur in the full-length play. And Ferdinand’s game of chess with Miranda has been replaced with a fencing match, perhaps to keep up the impetus and the pace. A chess-game possibly seemed too static? As Prospero, Michael Hadley is vigorous, authoritative and regal. If anything, he seems a bit too kindly. We cannot really imagine him punishing his wicked brother or the other evil-doers, so that the moment when he decides to spare them is not as dramatic as it could be otherwise. Sophie Franklin is a warm and impulsive Miranda, radiant in her rainbow wedding-garb. Matthew Fraser Holland is a suitably weird-looking Ariel, with a wan face like a Picasso Pierrot. Richard Pryal has the very difficult task of doubling the role Caliban (whom he acts with a Polish accent) with that of the young Prince Ferdinand. This doubling which is quite usual and very perceptive, involves lightening changes of costume and of demeanour. However, it is a piece of directorial mischief to make Caliban address the words “I loved you,” to Miranda rather than to Prospero. The music, by Nick Lloyd Webber, consists mainly of brief songs and snatches of airs, nothing very substantial, and the songs have been shifted out of their original positions in the play. The comedy roles of Stephano and Trinculo are very amusingly played by Christopher Jordan and Rodney Matthew who also act Sebastian and Antonio. This brings out the underlying themes of ambition and usurpation as both pairs are, in their different ways, attempting to seize control of the island. The setting in Wadham College gardens is eminently satisfactory, an enclosed, sheltered space where you can both see and hear everything. Personally I thought that for a matinee, the lighted torches all around the stage area were unnecessary and made it rather hot. Maybe they are more effective in the evening. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile production and definitely recommended for all age-groups. The Tempest is running until Thursday 19th August 2010. See http://www.osctheatre.org.uk/book.html#BookingInformation |
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