Arden of Faversham, at the Rose Theatre June 14, 2010
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Reviews , trackbackIs this a tragedy, comedy, tragical-comical or comical-tragical? The unknown author, who probably wasn’t William Shakespeare but may have been Thomas Kyd, seems to have started out writing a comedy, and then changed their mind. It’s like a modern sit-com, mostly light entertainment, but occasional something quite serious happens. In fact, it is a ‘domestic tragedy’ and, like A Yorkshire Tragedy, based on a real incident.
Arden of Faversham (Mark Carlisle) is a respectable chap, nice enough, but unfortunately his wife (Rachel Dale), her lover (Jonathan Woolf) and Green , who’s land he’s appropriated, all want to kill him. They hire a pair of London ruffians to do the deed, but these two turn out to be a right pair of clowns, and repeated fail. It’s almost a sixteenth century keystone caper. In the meantime, the wife and the lover seem to have the sort of relationship that would have Mariella Frostrup telling her to learn some self-respect. He’s clearly after her money, and she’s caught in one of those unpleasant, vaguely masochistic things where she can’t cope with his rejection, but knows its not right.
The Rose in Southwark is another tiny space, a raised platform overlooking the archaeological dig of the original Rose theatre where this play was first performed over 400 years ago. We sit along the wall, with the actors between us and the red lights outlining the area of the original theatre. It’s a small audience, and a strong bladder is needed for a two hour play with no interval and no loo on the premises, but well worth it.
Perhaps its just as well the theatre isn’t full, as the ruffians give us some excellent clowning, creeping behind the chairs, telling me to ‘sshhh’ while they stake out Arden on his way back from dinner, getting someone in the front row to hold their pistol and at one point, picking up my shoe (sore feet, slipped my shoes off).
The cast is energetic and enthusiastic with good performances from all. Its a rare chance to see a play which was once very popular but now not often performed.
Arden of Faversham runs at the Rose Theatre until 7 July. Tickets £8-10.
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