KING JOHN

The Lace Market Theatre

Not the most well known of William Shakespeare's plays but a fascinating piece of theatre it is. I can take or leave Shakespeare when it is modernised but this was done really well, and a tick in the director box for Cynthia Marsh.

This production starts in Thatcher's reign, and it was uncanny how much Mandy Wilson looked like the Iron Lady. It then travels back to Elizabethan England and then to medieval times. Covering the reign of King John from him receiving the crown to his death with plenty of action, fighting and feuding in between.

It has plenty of comedy but also quite a bit of dark, sinister overtones with beheading, attempted blinding with hot pokers and suicide thrown into the mix. With this being a modern version of the script you will have no trouble following the text which in a way is good but it also takes a lot of the romance and poetry from Shakespeare's usual rhythm of words.

Paul Johnson stepped in at the very last minute to play King John but, even though he was reading the lines from a script, he still managed to "act" the script with feeling.

There were many stand out performances in this play, but as an entirety there were no weak links, so I will just mention a few of the actors that made this play a success for me. Loved the total commitment to the part of Queen Elinor by Janice White and Imogen Lea's passionate speech about Arthur, her son. Speaking of which, Arthur, the one under the wing of Hubert, was played wonderfully by Sophie Owen. I loved the innocence Sophie depicted in Arthur and the tragedy of his pleading not to have his eyes removed by Hubert and then throwing himself of off the battlements to his death.

Hubert was played by Neil Duckmanton and this is the best I have seen him act. Hubert, a follower of King John was portrayed like a little lap dog who would agree to whatever was asked but showing heart by not harming Arthur.

Shakespeare's works and script seem to bring out the true actor in an actor and I found this with Ciaran Stones. I have seen Ciaran in many productions over the years but his role as Phillip Falconbridge's "half brother", Robert Falconbridge really brought out a top class performance from Ciaran. Shakespeare, or at least this modern Shakespeare suits him down to the ground.

Two actors really held my attention though. They have such stage presence that you have to watch them when on stage and with this drama, they truly excelled and were magnetic. Rob Goll, who is a true Shakespeare buff, played King Phillip of France and knows how to project Shakespeare the way it should be done. He made it so easy to watch and understand the character.

And then there was Richard Hill who was just marvellously entertaining with that dry sense of humour he brought out of his character, Phillip Falconbridge. Another actor who really sits well with Shakespeare. Some would find some of Shakespeare's characters aloof and Falconbridge is definitely that and Richard knows just how to portray this aloofness with comedy, but when there are serious speeches to be made, you can tell by his face that he believes every word he says in character, very much like Rob Goll.

What also made this show exciting was the lighting and effects, designed by Hugh Phillip with a whole team of lighting engineers with the sound design by Peter Hodgkinson and Echo Zheng.

The set looked simple enough but looking closer you could see that quite a bit of hard work had gone into the design of the set which was the brainchild of Mark James who also created the backdrop projection.

If you've either never really been a Shakespeare fan then maybe this just might be the one to sway your opinion. many do not "get" the comedy in Shakespeare's work but believe me there is a lot of fun on his plays, especially in the hands of a good director and cast, and that is what you have here.

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Review: King John, Lace Market Theatre

Shakespeare's King John is rarely performed. But on the evidence of this Lace Market Theatre production, directed by Cynthia Marsh, it ought to be done more often. It comes over as a clear and compelling story about shifting alliances, peopled with strong, well-differentiated characters. And there's plenty of action, some of it nicely violent, and not a little humour.

Perhaps it's a matter of the original text, which we're told has been significantly cut. And here and there modern idiom seems to have been inserted. The result is vigorous, clear and beautiful, albeit without any long stretches of poetry. As for the plot, there aren't any sub-plots to compare and contrast with the main action, or any of those sometimes annoying low-life scenes to get in the way.

The actors are good, often much better than good. Practically all of them articulate and project the text admirably – it's one of the strengths of the production – as if it's being spoken for the first time. John himself is played on the book, by an excellent Paul Johnson, stepping in at extremely short notice to replace a sadly indisposed Ian Bennett.

Janice White's beautiful performance as Queen Elinor might be the best of the evening. Outstanding too is Richard Hill as the wily Falconbridge. And Imogen Lea, as Constance, stricken with anxiety and grief, is splendid.

Rob Goll, as Philip of France, Neil Duckmanton, highly enjoyable as Hubert, and Daniel Bryant, well cast as the Cardinal, also deliver fine performances.

The sillouetted battle scenes are effective.

Problems? The gratuitous intrusion of Margaret Thatcher and Elizabeth I behind picture frames doesn't work. And much worse is the jokey presentation to the newly-crowned John of a portrait of Shakespeare and a model of the Eiffel Tower.

But this bold production is definitely worth a look.

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