Chris Eldon Lee reviews Rain or Shine Theatre Company’s production of ‘The Tempest’. He saw the show at The Severn Country Park near Bridgnorth, but it’s also at Witley Court on August 15th, Stokesay Castle on the 27th, Beeston Castle on the 28th and Much Wenlock Priory on the 29th August.
Just when I thought Shakespeare in Shropshire couldn’t get any better – along come ‘Rain or Shine Theatre Company’ to prove me wrong. Their ‘Tempest’ is a real treat…a tremendous night out, in any weather.
So as not to temp providence outdoors, the dialogue of the oft cumbersome storm scene is completely cut and we are already on Prospero’s Isle where the wrecking of the ship is performed to the backdrop of a dozen twangling instruments; whilst the hippy-haired magician explains the back story to his lively, red-headed daughter by unveiling the transfixed actors, one by one.
A grumpy critic might point out that this later undermines Shakespeare’s carefully designed comedy moment when young Miranda gasps at seeing a handsome man for the very first time….but it’s worth it for the impetus. For this is a most imaginative and motivated pocket production of the play, which I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed.
James Reynard has edited the text, directed the show and plays Prospero – and his waxing and waning relationship with his spirit-servant is beautifully ambivalent. Claire Tucker delivers Ariel’s singsong lines whilst wafting around a gauze-draped half mask on a long wand. It’s movement is neatly synchronised with Prospero’s stout staff…and the issue of who is manipulating who shifts in the wind.
Much later, Ariel is required to throw her voice, saying “Though liest”, to get the drunken Trinculo into trouble; and the stagecraft of that ever-tricky moment is the most imaginative I’ve ever seen.
Reynard naturally makes the most of the love scenes and comedy sketches. Pippa Meekins’ charming Miranda is very girlish indeed specially when meeting the boyish, grinning Antonio. Their scenes together warmed the cockles and limbered the chuckle muscles.
But, in an audacious spot of doubling, the hugely engaging Ellis J Wells also plays the monster who once desired her. His Caliban is a bit of mithering hypochondriac really, with more than enough cheekiness to solicit sympathy. Mr. Wells is superb in both parts and Miss Meekins makes the most of an interlude in which she is required to titivate herself on stage, whilst Caliban transformed into Ferdinand backstage.
The players are clearly playing with the play…none more so than Anthony Young whose fey, fool Stephano is a yellow bowler hatted music hall artist with the gumption to match. There is something of Dick Emery about Mr Young and he gets away with a fair few supplements to Shakespeare’s text. His timing, with Rob Keeves’s gormless jester, is immaculate and their byplay is laugh-out-loud stuff.
But the production is also sincere and doesn’t fight shy of Shakespeare’s more ephemeral elements. The black-draped apparitions of conscience and the rainbow-clad, celebrant muses are delivered fair and square, no messing.
It’s all together a clear, concise and consummate telling of the tale….a delight to watch.
I spent the evening sitting near 10-year-old Daisy from Kinlet, who was seeing the show for the second time. “It’s a fantastic performance,” she told me. “Rain or Shine are just great. They ought to be famous.”