MAN AND SUPERMAN. To 28 August.
Bath/Malvern
MAN AND SUPERMAN
by George Bernard Shaw
Theatre Royal Bath In rep to 14 August 2004
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2pm then
Festival Theatre Malvern In rep 17-28 August
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2pm
Runs 3hr 35min One interval
TICKETS: 01225 448844 (Bath)
01684 892277
bookings@malvern-theatres.co.uk (Malvern)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 26 July
An overall magnificent, major achievement.Last year Pitlochry presented the three earthly' acts of Shaw's play as a kind of social comedy; this year Peter Hall has Shaw's measure with the complete four-act version, including the third act dream-scene known accurately, if perhaps misleadingly, as Don Juan in Hell'. The gain's tremendous.
For, as the first voice-over introducing each act says, this is a philosophical comedy. It begins in the security of Roebuck Ramsden's home, its half-height wall holding photos and memorabilia of the forward-thinkers Ramsden numbers himself among. He is soon shot down by John Tanner, self-styled Member of the Idle Rich and subsequent acts show visually how insular Ramsden's world is, as full-height vistas open out from the lush greenery of Richmond to the magnificent Spanish mountains.
Tanner's not let off the hook either by Shaw, who has the apparent moral renegades Jack supports all round on him - nor by Ann Whitefield who's identified him as the father of her future children. Despite his maxims, Tanner's last to see he's the target, rather than Octavius, who's forever drooling over Ann.
Though it's long by the clock, the third act whizzes past in Peter Hall's fine-nuanced production. Some of the English abroad are captured by Spanish brigands. As they sleep, Shaw reveals the characters' originals in Don Giovanni, Mozart's operatic treatment of the Don Juan legend.
Kevin Rigdon and Peter Mumford create a superb forum for the ensuing debate, the lair resembling a Greek theatre, with smoky wisps round characters' feet. Shaw's joke is that Juan is really fit only for heaven; the purposive male waylaid by desire. His traditional sexual victim Donna Anna is the predator on behalf of the Life Force which seeks to breed Nietzsche's improved-human brand of Superman.
Hall gives comedy scope while focusing on character and argument. So, James Laurenson's ripe-voiced Roebuck Ramsden, a substitute father for Ann Whitefield, is magnificent, wreathed in smiles when facing her, scowling at the outrageous Jack. He makes clear that while Ramsden has an over-high estimate of himself he's not, as often played, a buffoon.
Anna Cartaret brings patient acceptance to Ann's mother, blamed by Ann as source of whatever the younger woman wants to do. And Tessa Churchard has a neat, restrained rectitude as a single woman observing the proprieties.
Appearing remarkably like a younger Shaw, Will Keen possesses the driving energy of an activist yet allow space for mockery. There's also fine work especially from William Chubb's Spanish robber and Mark Hadfield's independent-minded chauffeur.
Rebecca Hall's Ann is bright but there's limited vocal variety, while her tone plus phrasing are very modern. It's good not to have conventional performances ideas all the time, but such anachronistic tones suggest a personality that would have attracted comments from some of these characters.
Still, here's a rare chance to see the full Man and Superman in an overall resplendent production.
Roebuck Ramsden/Statue: James Laurenson
Parlourmaid: Hannah Emmanuel
Octavius Robinson: Gyuri Sarossy
John Tanner/Don Juan: Will Keen
Ann Whitefield/Donna Anna: Rebecca Hall
Mrs Whitefield: Anna Cartaret
Miss Ramsden: Tessa Churchard
Violet Robinson: Sophie Winkleman
Henry Straker: Mark Hadfield
Hector Malone: Guy Lankester
Brigand: Peter Gordon
Mendoza/Devil: William Chubb
Mr Malone: Julian Glover
Director: Peter Hall
Designer: Kevin Rigdon
Lighting: Peter Mumford
Sound: Gareth Fry
Costume: Kevin Rigdon, Trish Rigdon
Associate director: Trish Rigdon
2004-07-29 14:35:59