Pericles at RSC Swan Theatre Review
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Fri 26 Jul 2024 - Sat 21 Sep 2024
It's been 18 years since Shakespeare's lesser-produced play
Pericles was put on by the Royal Shakespeare Company(RSC). Yet the RSC's new co-artistic director Tamara Harvey has taken a chance on this romantic epic adventure for her directorial debut with the company.
Pericles runs at The Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until September 21. I caught it on press night when actors including David Tennant were among the crowd.
Based on the classical tale of Pericles' adventures, it's seen as a difficult play that Shakespeare is believed to have co-written. That could be why early parts, said to be by another writer, plod slightly with unsavoury topics like incest and stilted scenes.
The atmosphere and action shift when Pericles reaches Pentapolis. It's here that romance flourishes in sensual and heartfelt moments that bring the story to life.
Harry Potter movie actor Alfred Enoch is a strong lead and has the stature and charismatic appeal needed for heroic Pericles. Yet, the production lifts with the added zest and comedy from Christian Patterson's jolly Simonides in
Pentapolis, shown above.
Simonides is the affectionate father of Thaisa, who wins over Pericles' heart with her witty chat and a seductive dance sequence. Rather than props, it's this kind of movement, along with costumes and songs that transport the audience to the ancient cities of Ephesus, Tyre and more.
The set is minimal, with ropes and lanterns hanging across the stage that cleverly gives the effect of a ship on Pericles' many voyages or a makeshift tent for various feasts.
Everything is there to appeal to the senses - the smell of the candle and even sprays of water covering the cast in storm scenes.
There's the feel of ancient Middle Eastern cities and Africa in the gatherings and costumes too. Dresses have African beadwork influences by costume designer Kinnetia Isidore and there are soulful acoustic songs that help bring out the emotion in this tale of Pericles and how his journeys bring him love, loss and renewed hope.
Rachelle Diedericks acts as a narrator for much of the play before taking on her role as Pericles' savvy daughter, Marina. Although she gets trafficked into a brothel, her terrible ordeal is treated with light-hearted bawdy comedy that surprisingly does work in the context of her managing to outwit her owner.
Diedericks impresses throughout and is more than a match for Enoch. Their final son and daughter scenes together ahead of the finale are packed with emotion and some of the strongest in the production.
Overall, it's a fine RSC debut by director Harvey as she has transformed
Pericles into a sensual, emotive, epic enhanced with heartfelt music and dance.
RATING: 4 stars out of 5
Catch
Pericles at the RSC Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Find details and tickets at the RSC
website here .
It runs until Sept 21.
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#arts_culture 291713 - 2024-08-08 08:50:54