This was a really highly anticipated production for me, and I was their literal target audience.
A Jamie Lloyd Co. alternative interpretation of Shakespeare with darker tones and a minimalist set with a female Prospero? Sign me up. But this production did anything but appeal to me. Featuring Sigourney Weaver, I had really high hopes, but they were crushed pretty quickly.
I didn't love this production, if that isn't obvious by now. I really really wanted to, but it just didn't do anything for me. Sigourney Weaver basically sat on a stool onstage for most of the show, with other members of the cast also sitting on top of effectively sand dunes, with Ariel played by Mason Alexander Park occasionally making a flying appearance or Forbes Masson as Caliban occasionally entering by crawling up from the ground and crawling on the ground in an outfit that can only be described as BDSM-like garments. I don't have an inherent problem with the concept, actually I'm kind of a fan, but I found the pacing and flow of the production to be quite one-note and bland. The highlight for me certainly was Mathew Horne as a hilarious Trinculo. Unfortunately, I have to be honest, I was entirely unimpressed by Sigourney Weaver's performance as Prospero. I had really high hopes, but she was just giving me nothing, which was really unfortunate.
The set design by Soutra Gilmour was lovely, I am a fan of minimalist representative design and seeing the bare bones of the stage. The Lighting by Jon Clark was gorgeous, as was the sound design by Ben and Max Ringham. Ariel flying was cool (the first time, and maybe the second) but it lost its 'wow' effect for me the third time.
I don't want to drag on and on speaking negatively about this production, so I'll wrap it up. but I was unfortunately really let-down by this production and by Jamie Lloyd's direction. It had a lot of potential, but it just wasn't it for me. I'm unsure if I'll go see their Much Ado About Nothing.
Rating: 1/5
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