Moon Tiger (Tour – Salford)

The novel Moon Tiger won the Booker Prize in 1987 and now more than 25 years later it appears as a stage play. Adapting novels for another medium is fraught with problems and more often than not the transition does not succeed. Either the plot and the characters are nothing like the book, or the feel and atmosphere created by the novelist fail to emerge on to the stage.

This adaptation comes across as very worthy, capturing much of the elegiac quality of the original, but unfortunately sometimes the people make such fleeting appearances that they become merely stage characters. The joys of the book are the wonderful descriptions of time and place brought to life in the brilliant prose of Dame Penelope, and it is a hindrance that such similar literary descriptions are brought onto the stage, turning the piece more into a lecture than a riveting play.

This production of Moon Tiger is admirable in every respect, which is its strength and its weakness. On the plus side, the technical team is to be congratulated on such superb lighting, sound and back projection, as the action shifts within seconds in time and place.

The direction by Stephen Unwin is clear and uncluttered and what could be a static monologue moves with ease and precision. The constant moving of chairs and the getting in and out of bed stay just the right side of irritation, but Unwin gets the best out of his cast that the script allows. However, the mimed drinking and eating is awkward and amateurish.

The main character of Claudia may be feisty, but she is unsympathetic and hard to warm to. Jane Asher, however, is a strong centre to the production and she brings subtlety to the constant age changes and her relationships with the other characters.

The supporting cast change characters with ease and style, but any adult jumping up and down pretending to be a child is an embarrassment. Tim Delap gives a commanding performance as the big love of Claudia’s life and Christopher Brandon is excellent as her brother. It is in these scenes between Gordon and Claudia when the play is at its best in all respects.

All in all, Moon Tiger is a fascinating couple of hours in the theatre – very well done, but not having the impact and involvement of the best of drama. Played straight through as a chamber piece, it would work better as a "studio play", particularly at literary festivals.

Moon Tiger is at the Lowry until 22 February.

– Richard Woodward