Pericles

Synopsis

Pericles is offered the chance to win the hand of King Antiochus s daughter if he can solve a riddle. However solving the riddle reveals a terrible secret about the King that puts Pericles in mortal danger and sets him off on a death-defying voyage. The story takes place in a wondrous and timeless world, on a whirlwind journey through strange kingdoms and across perilous oceans. Pericles faces ruthless tyrants and rival suitors, surviving battles and shipwrecks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Our Review:

3 June 2005

What a strange tour we get at Kathryn Hunter’s production of Pericles at the Globe.

In fact, we really get three productions for the price of one as Hunter gives us a production that mixes Shakespeare with some breathtaking aerial feats and some west African songs.

Hunter considers the play a healing process for Pericles and, as such, Patrice Naiambana's Gower is transformed into an African griot in response to Hunter's view of the narrator as healer as well. This is made easier by having the same actor play Cerimon, the healer who magically brings Thaisa back to life, and so, confusingly, the narrator becomes participant.

What’s more confusing still, are Gower’s asides on world poverty and colonialism; they seem particularly out of place in this play where Pericles is far away from a colonial conqueror as can be imagined.

Even more troublesome for me is having Gower sing of Pericles’ adventures in another language. The point of a narra...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

193.118.206.221) - 12 September 2005:

A tour de force. Everything worked for me from the West African Gower to the aerialist exploits and it still had the true Shakespeare magic. ...

Read more and add your own review