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Review: The Tempest, Anvil Productions, Museum Gardens, York

10:21am Friday 31st July 2009

What an outdoor performance can lack in intimacy, it can make up for in power and voice.

It was a pleasure to view Anvil’s production of The Tempest in a natural setting with this in mind.

A complex plot means it is not necessarily as accessible as the rest of Shakespeare’s oeuvre, but the themes of natural elements and magic are broad enough to interpret comfortably, as the production uses atmosphere and minimal staging to simplify the story.

This touring production of The Tempest broaches the play’s modernist themes while making best use of the exquisite surroundings of York’s Museum Gardens.

In a perfect irony, however, a genuine tempest drove Wednesday’s audience into the aptly-named Tempest Anderson Hall, where the play was performed with gutsy aplomb by its cast, whose natural zeal overcame the unexpected challenge.

Despite the rain’s efforts, the walls of the theatre barely contained the cast, whose standout Ariel dominated the show. Like David Bowie and Agyness Deyn’s love child, James Beadle burst on the scene with all the magnetism and grace of an Elizabethan Sarah Harding – and trust me, it worked.

The asset of any outdoor production is often its talent, as staging, décor and costume take a backdoor to characterisation.

For example, the play’s various islands and regions were characterised with varying accents, ranging from rich rolling Welsh inflections to North Yorkshire intonations, so that a reminder of England’s rich pagan history was evoked by Shakespeare’s play.

Shakespeare’s eerie, prescient ability to pinpoint modern emotion was in evidence as the crowd giggled over such – let’s admit it now – basic truths as “misery acquaints a man with such strange bedfellows”.

It made me think, yes, the clash of modernity and the elements are a bit like tonight: man always strives to conquer nature, which is only to happy to assert its supremacy, just like The Tempest’s brave challenge of a summer evening in York’s Museum Gardens.

- Catherine Sevigny - THE PRESS _ York

 

GP - Carew 23rd June 2009

Names and contact details supplied

The stunning setting of Carew Castle was magnificently upstaged by the production of The Tempest. The cast of Anvil Production gave a performance, in my opinion equal, if not in some ways better than that of the RSC. To highlight any individual is unfair, however James Beadle's Ariel and Stuart Hudson's Prospero were outstanding. The comedy element was brilliantly executed. The performance was partly in the round. A most enjoyable evening, Anvil Productions are not to be missed.

GS - Carew 23rd June 2009

Names and contact details supplied

Just a quick line to say how much we enjoyed your performance of the Tempest at Carew Castle this week. The quality of the production, the excellent acting and wonderful setting made it a truly magical evening that we shall never forget. Thank you. (It did seem a real shame though that the space was not packed out as you so richly deserved.)

TW. Hay Castle - 2.30pm 31st May 2009

Names and contact details supplied

    I thought your production of The Tempest was quite magical - as of course it should be: splendidly staged in the delightful setting, beautifully costumed, and acted with real excellence throughout the cast - from Miranda in her first-ever Shakespeare ........... and Trinculo with the wonderfully pliable features of another Rowan Atkinson, to the suitably commanding & troubled Prospero and the quite remarkable Caliban-Gonzalo double act, as well as the very credible doubling (against gender) of Alonso and Ferdinand. But Ariel was absolutely outstanding, mesmerically compelling and perfect in every tiny nuance: a real star in the making, as I'm sure you must know. What a pity there was no cast list. I'd love to know their names. I'm looking forward in the next few weeks to outdoor productions of As You Like It and Twelfth Night - and they'd better be good to follow yours!

E. - 2.30pm show - Hay Castle, Hay on Wye - 31st May 2009

Names and contact details supplied

Tempest in the Castle Grounds -  Not a real one, fortunately - the Shakespeare version, on a blisteringly hot afternoon, and with a small but appreciative audience. Anvil Productions were performing, on tour from ........ North Wales. The website is www.anvilproductions.co.uk There was quite a bit of cross-dressing, and doubling up on parts, as you'd expect from a small touring company - but they were very good indeed, especially Prospero and Ariel. And with no electronic amplification. When Prospero did the "this rough magic do I now abjure" speech, I think you could have heard him in the Market Square!

 

 

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