Post by stevej678 on Mar 12, 2016 10:25:43 GMT
Really enjoyed English Touring Theatre's production of The Herbal Bed at the Playhouse in Liverpool last night.
In the 400th year since Shakespeare's death, it's an interesting choice to revive a play about his daughter but this is a terrific production, loosely based on the real events of Shakespeare's daughter being accused of adultery and her accuser being sued for slander, but adding plenty of fictitious flesh to the bare bones of the limited information in the public domain.
The music really adds to the mood of the piece from the moment the audience takes their seats, with a large wooden box dominating the stage which unfolds to reveal the garden set, filled with real herbs, as the performance begins.
The cast without exception are outstanding, particularly Emma Lowndes who gives a compelling performance in the central role, capturing the fretfulness, frustration and divided loyalties of Susanna quite exquisitely. There's standout support from Charlotte Wakefield, investing the servant Hester with real warmth and Matt Whitchurch who gives a flamboyant portrayal of Jack Lane, while Michael Mears' creepy and withering Barnabus Goche is perfectly judged.
The play raises plenty of thought provoking points as to if/when it's acceptable to lie and there's a nice irony of all the central protagonists all being aware of the deceit but ultimately choosing to maintain the charade of righteousness.
Full of heart and wit and fully rounded characters, The Herbal Bed gives a gripping insight into how salacious gossip threatens to tear a family apart, placing the conflict between public and private morality firmly in the spotlight, something which still feels very resonant today.
This is definitely the best thing I've seen at the theatre for several months and well worth catching on its UK tour which continues in Exeter, Brighton, Salford, Bath, Oxford and Kingston until 7th May.
In the 400th year since Shakespeare's death, it's an interesting choice to revive a play about his daughter but this is a terrific production, loosely based on the real events of Shakespeare's daughter being accused of adultery and her accuser being sued for slander, but adding plenty of fictitious flesh to the bare bones of the limited information in the public domain.
The music really adds to the mood of the piece from the moment the audience takes their seats, with a large wooden box dominating the stage which unfolds to reveal the garden set, filled with real herbs, as the performance begins.
The cast without exception are outstanding, particularly Emma Lowndes who gives a compelling performance in the central role, capturing the fretfulness, frustration and divided loyalties of Susanna quite exquisitely. There's standout support from Charlotte Wakefield, investing the servant Hester with real warmth and Matt Whitchurch who gives a flamboyant portrayal of Jack Lane, while Michael Mears' creepy and withering Barnabus Goche is perfectly judged.
The play raises plenty of thought provoking points as to if/when it's acceptable to lie and there's a nice irony of all the central protagonists all being aware of the deceit but ultimately choosing to maintain the charade of righteousness.
Full of heart and wit and fully rounded characters, The Herbal Bed gives a gripping insight into how salacious gossip threatens to tear a family apart, placing the conflict between public and private morality firmly in the spotlight, something which still feels very resonant today.
This is definitely the best thing I've seen at the theatre for several months and well worth catching on its UK tour which continues in Exeter, Brighton, Salford, Bath, Oxford and Kingston until 7th May.
