25th July 2012
****
The Red Rose Chain theatre group have returned to Rendlesham Forest
for their thirteenth year performing ‘Theatre in the Forest’, and once again
the Suffolk
audience welcomed them back with open arms. I am always impressed with the overflowing
enthusiasm of the cast, and their success in entertaining audience members of
every age; and although King Lear is certainly
the most difficult of the Bard’s works I’ve seen them attempt, this year was no
different.
The cast demonstrated once more the combination of stamina, technical
ability and pure silliness which makes Theatre in the Forest
such a winning formula. Without exception, they mastered the Shakespearean
verse – often playing multiple roles – whilst for the most part keeping the convoluted
plot accessible to all. Seasoned Red-Rose-Chainer Joanna Carrick continued her
run of strong performances as Goneril/Gloucester (including a hilarious
Shakespearean mash-up of Salt ‘n’ Pepa’’s Push
It…) while newcomer Scott Ellis made a powerful Edmund, holding the stage with
ease in his solo scenes. Elsewhere student Owen Morgan showed impressive range
as Edgar and Regan, excelling in both poignancy and comic petulance in his
varying roles. In this strong ensemble, however, there was no doubt that Edward
Day was the star, in sheer stamina and commitment if nothing else. Lear is a
mammoth role to undertake even within the Shakespearean canon, and Day threw
his all into it, rarely having a break to speak of between scenes. As his
control over events in the play faltered, his power over the audience grew, veering
from near-physical breakdown to intense fury to childish hysteria. Most of all,
it was evident just how much fun he was having with the role: a quality that the audience lapped up and repaid in obvious appreciation.
The costume and set designers were, as ever, not afraid to go
along with some wacky ideas: Lear’s frequent appearances on a gold
spray-painted mobility scooter both undermined his kingly authority and
provided an opportunity for slapstick. The portrayal of the Fool as Lear’s
adored hand-puppet was an interesting one; I suspect it was more due to
numerical limitations of cast than anything, but nevertheless it provided an intriguing
reading of the play. With Fool and King conflated into one, his childishness
and increasing mental were highlighted. It also brought out some of the
sympathy I’ve always felt for Goneril and Regan earlier in the play: ok, they
do overreact in a pretty massive way, but you can see how some of Lear’s
behaviour could start to wind you up…
As I conclude my review, however, I ask myself why I’m so
reluctant to give it five stars. Somehow King
Lear, entertaining and brilliant as it was, didn’t quite have that extra
spark of magic that Theatre in the Forest has
had in the past. Perhaps it is the toughness of Lear as a play, or perhaps they were let down a little by a couple
of directorial decisions. The storm scene, that pinnacle moment, never quite
reached the intensity I was looking for, yet I will admit that would be
difficult in the beautiful July sunshine. For me the blinding of Gloucester also missed
the mark – although again, it’s a hard scene to judge when you’re catering for
young children.
So all in all, the Red Rose Chain have pulled off another
great success. As the actors’ voices echo around the fantastic space of
Rendlesham Forest, Shakespeare’s work really does come to life, and this King Lear is another unique, refreshing
and thoroughly entertaining show, whether you are five, fifty or one hundred
and five years old.
King Lear runs until
26th August in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk
