Catherine Bennett resumes the weekly look at the performing arts world, with the sad end of Jerusalem, the luck of a cabbie, and French revolt. Do you hear the people sing?
Adam Alcock reviews Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons and his own Four Elements at York Opera House.
Catherine Bennett highlights the trends in the performing arts world today.
Jonathan Cridford reviews 'Ghosts', one of the Freshers' plays for this year.
The Winter's Tale is in the awkward category of 'romance' plays. Written at the end of Shakespeare's life, these plays are not sure whether they are tragedies or comedies.
This production, however, was assured, well-performed Shakespeare. It was certainly very humorous, and refreshingly so, as the humour was not just consigned to interim scenes with minor characters.
The tale begins with King Leontes accusing his wife Hermione of adultery and casting away their newborn baby. He watches first his son die of an illness aggravated by the allegations against his mother, and then his wife die from grief for her son. The play is peppered with the classical references to fate and the revenge of the gods on Leontes for ignoring the oracle, leaning the play towards tragedy. However, this production is sorrowful without being heart-wrenching, and the plot moves gracefully to a happy resolution centred on the characteristic confusion of identities.
A nautical-themed backdrop and music composed by Emily Crossland were very effective in strengthening the mood of the drama without drowning out or detracting from the players. Many members of the cast assumed more than one role, proving themselves to be very versatile and emphasising the duality of Perdita and Florizel, both children of kings but disguised as shepherds for part of the play. Annabel Sheen, for instance, persuasively played the parts of the children of Leontes and Hermione, Mamillius, their son, who dies, and Perdita, who, as her name suggests, loses her parents and is adopted by a shepherding family. Florizel, son of King Polixenes, also disguises himself as a shepherd so that he may marry Perdita.
Though the play has been described as forward-thinking in showing that a prince may fall in love with someone he believes is a shepherdess, Shakespeare merely reinforces the idea that royalty is predestined to marry royalty. Florizel chooses Perdita from all the others, without knowing she is a princess.
Particular recognition for performance should go to Dominic Allen, who played the parts of Leontes and Autolycus, a peddlar. Allen switched easily between tragedy and hilarious farce, commanding the attentions of the audience in every scene; that is until Niamh Walsh as Hermione became an incredibly convincing statue, coming to life to give us a strong and dramatic climax to the play.
The Winter's Tale is on at the Drama Barn from Thursday 4 June - Sunday 7 June. Doors open at 19:20. Tickets should be available on the door. Arrive early to avoid disappointment
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