Reader Reviews
Cymbeline (Open Air Theatre, West End)
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 | This rarely seen piece plays like an elaborate Shakespearean practical joke with its plot elements from so many other from the canon (I spotted Lear, R&J, 12th Night, As U Like It, Winters Tale, Pericles, Othello, Measure4Measure but I bet theres loads more), and the way it veers so wildly in tone from all-out comedy through deep tragedy to wintry romance. Not surprising it isn't done too often but there is so much going on (even this heavily cut version runs at 3 hrs!) it would be hard to get bored. Rachel Kavanaugh wisely lets the various strands of the play speak for themselves without imposing some kind of concept on them. This works well mostly, although the frantic pace she sets her cast does mean that much of the pathos is sold short, and by the time of the preposterous denoument there was much audience laughter (not all enitirely appropriate!). Also, given the sylvan beauty of Regents Park, it's a shame the set for this is so hideous. Most of the acting is fine: I liked Daniel Flynn and Emma Pallant's star-crossed lovers, Julian Curry's eloquent king, Harriet Thorpe's camply evil Queen and, above all, Simon Day's superbly oily villain. For me, James Loye's look-at-me-aren't-I-funny Cloten didn't work at all, not least because the dark side of the character barely registered. Am so glad I saw this as it is a bit of a collector's piece and was grateful that this production made it as easy to follow as is possible!! - 195.82.123.181) | 05 Aug 05 |
