Naima Khan finds more joy in Shakespeare thanks to Little Angel Theatre and RSC's production of The Tempest.
After seeing The Tempest at Little Angel Theatre, it's now my personal belief that Shakespeare should always be performed with puppets.
With a striking use of comedy and creativity, the Little Angel Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company have constructed a colourful, emotive family show from one of Shakespeare's most sinister and darkly magical plays.
Peter Glanville's production takes the romance, the magic and the more earnest relationships within The Tempest and places them centre-stage. Prospero is not so much a manipulative, scornful, solitary figure as he is a strict, protective father. Sebastian and Antonio don't really plot to kill the king; they just have a few opportunistic lightbulb moments. Brett Brown's hilarious Stephano has a Russell Brand-like quality to his drunkenness. To kids this is just silliness with a smidge of slaptick. Stephano along with Ruth Calkins' equally funny Trinculo provide plenty of cheeky audience interaction as they run around hiding between seats and looking through children's lunches.
Even Caliban loses his sinister characteristicsin favour of a dopey likeness to Puff the Magic Dragon. The puppetry, as you'd expect from Little Angel, is brilliant. Caliban's manner and gait are so much funnier than anything I'd anticipated, but in the hands of Jonathan Dixon he also casts a sombre mood when he needs to. In this production Ariel is a dainty nymph with humour, affection and a physicality that's sure to remind kids of Peter Pan.
The aesthetics are certainly good, but not perfect. Some of the regal costumes seem a little gaudy, but Miranda's floaty white dress and messy-chic hair make her beautifully delicate and innocent. The RSC-provided set, meanwhile, is surprisingly contemporary and abstract. It consists of two large, ice-blue curves. There's no sense of an island or caves and it's a complete mismatch to the adorable, slightly more classic pirate-ship-like boats bouncing on the sea behind it.
Parents might feel there is a slight issue with pacing too. Sometimes it feels like there are a few too many dialogue-heavy scenes that kids might not appreciate. But then again, never underestimate children. And don't underrate the genuinely moving moments when Miranda first sets her eyes on Ferdinand and when Ariel in finally granted his freedom.
Condensed into an hour and twenty minutes, it still feels like Shakespeare, just happier.
The Tempest runs at Little Angel Theatre until 15th May.
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