| Description |
Adrian Noble's production is visually stunning, superbly contrasting the austere formality of the Edwardian Sicilian court with the village in 1930s Bohemia, complete with bunting, fair-isle and plus fours clad bumpkins and balloons galore. Balloons dominate the stage, at court hanging stiffly, in dark jewel colours, while in the country they are varying shades of green floating loosely over the stage. And red balloons are used, together with phallic mops, in a gloriously funny satyr dance. They are even used to deliver an important letter and to raise a character above the stage….The trial scene of Hermione in the rain, surrounded by courtiers holding umbrellas is strikingly and sadly effective. The most famous stage direction of Shakespeare's, 'Exit pursued by a bear' is followed to the hilt, with a huge shaggy beast looming over his victim…. |
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