Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Synopsis

An epic tale featuring two musicians, three puppets, a goat and two chickens and a very old wrinkled pen. Set on a Greek Island of Cephalonia from the Second World War to the present day, Captain Corelli's Mandolin tells the story of Dr Iannis, his daughter, Pelagia, the heroic Italian soldier, Carlo Guercio, the mandolin-playing Captain Antonio Corelli and the love they all share. It's a passionate story that sweeps you up with joy one minute then makes the fright and rage of war boil in the stomach the next. It is full of laughter and tears, the joy of love and, ultimately, the triumph of life over death.

Our Review:

Anne Morley-Priestman - 29 October 2011

When we hear those snatches of Verdi, we realise that the force of destiny is something which envelopes small people as well as great events. The co-production by Colchester’s Mercury Theatre and the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre of Tbilisi , Georgia of Mike Maran’s stage adaptation of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin blends a number of diverse theatre traditions with considerable success.

The talking-point is, of course, the use of rod puppets. These are both the village characters who surround the principal characters of [Louis de Bernières]’ novel and their alter-egos, often with both the live actors and their small-scale equivalents on stage at the same time. The manipulation of the puppets by ten black-clad operators is excellent; the audience vote definitely went to the tail-wagging, finger-biting goat.

As Pelagia, the doctor’s daughter with her sights set on a medical career but whose life is thrown into emotional turmoil fi...

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Latest User Review

Cherry Whitby - 3 November 2011:

cannot fault any aspect, actors, puppeteers, sets, lighting. All amazing!...

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