Writer: William Shakespeare
Director: Tamara Harvey
There is no doubt that Pericles is a tricky play. The many questions as to how much Shakespeare contributed to the text and how much comes from the less talented George Wilkins will never fully be resolved. But the uneven quality and tone of the text lies at the heart of the challenge facing any company seeking to stage this late romance.
Narratively, the play is very episodic moving between numerous locations on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean over an extended time period. It shares a number of similarities with Voltaire’s Candide. The central figure is buffeted by external forces through a series of journeys matched by a series of quasi-miraculous coincidences. It has the potential to be confusing but Tamara Harvey’s debut RSC production is a great example of clear storytelling and well delineated characterisation from a talented cast.
Harvey has assembled a crack team of creatives to help deliver her vision. Jonathan Fensom’s maritime inspired set is deceptively simple but allows the action to flow seamlessly from scene to scene. Ryan Day’s lighting works as much with shadow as with light and creates many memorable images.
Kinnetia Isidore has assembled a handsome wardrobe of costumes that effectively evoke place and status with a rich palette of earth and watery tones. Musically, Claire Van Kampen is at the top of her game with an elegant and beautiful score.
Where the production is not so consistently assured is with the use of movement. There are some dazzling moments particularly in the storm sequences where the audience does get a real sense of the power of the sea. However there are too many sections where the cast form a tableau or strike a series of poses that detract from the acting. This, in turn, contributes to an overall lack of pace that causes the production to feel ten minutes longer than it ought to be.
Leading the cast is Alfred Enoch who makes an assured and accomplished first appearance on an RSC stage. He is a confident verse speaker and hopefully will return to Stratford to take on many more lead roles in the future. He is well supported by the ensemble cast with notable contributions from Felix Hayes, Philip Bird and Christian Patterson each of whom draw on their Shakespearean experience to entertain with some rich character work.
The shining star at the heart of the production is Rachelle Diedericks as Marina. Harvey has expanded the role in a dramaturgical masterstroke by combining it with that of Gower who, in the original, narrates the tale. By making Marina the central storyteller, it gives the performance a fresh impetus and unique viewpoint. Diedericks seizes this opportunity and delivers a stunning performance that should surely be the start of a life long career as a Shakespearean leading player. She is the complete package and someone that the RSC should nurture and cherish for decades to come.
Overall, this is a handsome and coherent production of a difficult text delivered with confidence.
Runs until 21 September 2024
