THE TEMPEST is a fatally dull wreck | ★★ review of Jamie Lloyd production starring Sigourney Weaver
THE TEMPEST is a fatally dull wreck | ★★ review of Jamie Lloyd production starring Sigourney Weaver
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OHMYGOD HEY!
Earlier this week, I finally caught THE TEMPEST at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the West End.
This William Shakespeare play is produced in a new production by director Jamie Lloyd and stars Sigourney…
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Have you ever seen the Tempest on stage?
This was my 2nd time seeing a production of THE TEMPEST, the first being at Shakespeare’s Globe back in 2013.
I enjoyed this production immensely. Ms Weaver’s phrasing is impeccable, still ringing in my head. And her accent has a very refreshing effect, away from the ‘traditional’ speedy shakespearean enunciation. The darkness of Prospero’s world in the production is justified because Prospero is a ‘dark’ sorcerer driven by revenge and only his transformation at the end should lead him eventually to a brighter life in Italy. But even then, since he gave up all his magical powers, he might not survive the trip back to Europe. He’s travelling with the same murderers, after all. Hence, even this supposedly happy ending does not get us completely rid of a darker perspective.
My favorite version of The Tempest is the 2017 RSC version, the projections were soooo cool highly recommend the pro shot
I saw this production and I haaaated that endless circling at the end of the play. There were so many choices that felt emrbyonic, like something you do in a rehearsal room and then ditch because you're going to find the actual meat of the show and they never did. All of my criticisms I would lay at Lloyd's door and I feel validated by this review, thank you.
My previous Tempest experience was watching a site-specific production and it was, genuinely, extremely magical. It was a student production so full of energy and humour, we got drunk with the clowns and Prospero switched regularly as a practical choice that became part of the magic. Really cleverly done.
I have tickets to see Much Ado, I am pretty worried because I liked Stefano a lot so looked up to see if he was going to be Dogberry and nobody is. Nobody. How can you ditch Dogberry? I get people not liking the Shakespeare clowns but he's got to be one of the most important, plotwise.
I do wonder if the staging and even the poster were chosen specifically to play into the popularity of Sigourney Weaver's sci-fi credentials to further lure in those who otherwise wouldn't be drawn to Shakespeare but will come to see her. I was lukewarm on it initially, but the more I think about it the less I like it
I saw this show on Saturday (its final day) and I thought it was excellent. Sigourney Weaver was solid, starry yet unpretentious – I genuinely cannot understand the negative reviews. She was clearly directed to deliver the dialogue in almost a Captain Janeway/Kirk style – and also I remember "Forbidden Planet" the sci fi classic from the 1950s is actually "The Tempest". And Mason Alexander Park was outstanding. I'm with Neil Norman of the Daily Express on this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was really weird not having prop Daggers & swords & i hoped for more when it came to Ariels Wire work, rather than up & down. It was OK nice to see certain actors perform but thats it.
It looks awful. I just don’t agree that Prospero is a gender-neutral character. His backstory and arc are classically male. His relationship with Miranda does not make sense as a mother-daughter relationship at all.
Shakespearean english, a heck of a tempo and so boring.
Maybe it was me, but I fall a sleep a couple of times first half, but the second was much better.
But not knowing much of the play before (just seeing Paul Mazurskys film version), i saw it more like a drama then a comedy.
So, great actors but boring production.
This review is on point… sadly.
– Gags felt very cheap,
– You come out of the theatre with nothing from Prospero… zero sympathy; and Miranda saying it’s the first time seeing Prospero angry had to be said for sure
– BDSM costume 😂, and
– Mason Alexander Park as the only one worth watching and rooting for.
The word “distasteful” from someone who puts an LED ring light in the frame is… well, refreshing.
Saw it last night. You nailed it! My wife isn’t a Shakespeare fan, I am…….i don’t think I’ll ever get her to see Shaky again!
My friend and I bought balcony tickets for this show a few weeks ago and got upgraded to stalls which, while nice for us, is always a bad sign for the show imo. Even in the stalls it wasn't full. I'm very concerned about Much Ado now.
Just got back from watching it tonight and the most exciting thing about the show was when Just Stop Oil caused a 10 minute show stop 😭
I loved it
I saw the Tempest last week. I liked it and I thought Sigourney Weaver was amazing. But the second act in particular I felt was a bit rushed.
Looks like I'm in the minority here but I've just watched this show and I loved it! It's a special take for sure, and not for everyone I'll give you that-but as someone who loves anything ethereal and mysterious or dream-like, it was right up my alley. The music is magical, the production design and the lighting mind-blowing, and Ariel's singing knocked my socks off every single time. I also loved Sigourney Weaver, though the lisp was noticeable and I kept wondering what happened to her…I'd say if you liked Villeneuve's Dune, you're going to love this – if not, catch a different adaptation. Even though I had a few nitpicks myself, I'd still give it 5 stars. BTW, in my interpretation this adaptation is focusing on political and social commentary-Weaver represents a centrist/leftie government trying to rule society on both sides of the spectrum (ethereal Ariel and brutish Caliban), while also trying to punish those who'd attacked her…and just like today, she realizes that in this strife she's become just like her enemies and so she forgives and movies away from power. My two cents, that is;)
Just a comment for anyone watching this who may have tickets for the show and are now a little nervous following Mickey's review: go in with an open mind and you might be pleasantly surprised. I love MickeyJo's reviews and so was eager to see what he thought of the Tempest following Jamie Lloyd's Romeo and Juliet (which I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have enjoyed, both because of reviews of the production and becuase it's not my favourite Shakespeare play), so I was a little nervous to hear that it might be dull. However, I actually really enjoyed it. I loved the staging (I think they did a great job for so big a stage – I usually see Shakespeare either at the much smaller Stratford theatres or in the Cambridge University college gardens – so this was really awesome for me to see a production of this size). I thought the actors were really good, especially Mason Alexander Park – they have such a commanding air and their singing voice is incredible! I also thought Sigourney was good too – obviously not as outstanding as actors trained and used to performing Shakespeare (one of the reasons I am excited for Tom Hiddleston in Much Ado, as I know he is excellent at Shakespeare!) – however she performed it in such a slow and clear manner to me that I could actually listen and comprehend the text, and actually found some of her lines to be quite poignant. Overall, really glad I got tickets and had a throughly enjoyable evening (also enjoyed by Bombay Sapphire bramble gin and tonic before and during the show – always drink responsibly!) – I'd watch it again actually!
Is it usual to have so many shows in a row in a relatively short time by the same creative? I feel like part of the problem is that he doesn't have time to do his due diligence with each production, he's just rushing to mount the next one.
I saw a really interesting student production actually that pushed things to the extreme in a way that i thought revealed more in the story. Prospero’s unforgiveness was manifest in him becoming more like caliban in physicality and temperament and then right as if he’s about to fully become the monster the switch scene happens where ariel says i would if i were human. the epilogue was done after everyone leaves and he was on stage alone and tried to leave but couldn’t until the audience clapped and he could go with his family. this production also had stephanie and trinculo as lovers which added a whole new dynamic that was hilarious and funny. aesthetically it was a cold wet island so definitely darker and the miranda was more feral for lack of a better word to show how she wasn’t raised in society and raised by a single father. it wasn’t perfect but i saw so many things in the play i never thought of
At least nobody was whispering… 🙄
I didn't notice the lisp.But there was certainly a lack of light and shade in Sigourney Weaver's performance.
Not sure why Caliban was dressed like he was on his way to Taboo.
Ariel was excellent and the ensemble give a more poetic reading.
Selena Cadell would have made an admirable Prospero.
I don’t know this play that well – saw it at the Globe a couple of years ago with a wizened old Prospero dressed in just tiny yellow Speedos. Not the best image to have seared into the brain.
This was the fifth Jamie Lloyd production I’ve seen. First was Betrayal – three actors sitting on seats, reciting the script. (And what a horrible play that is.) Second was Cyrano de Bergerac, actors standing in line reciting rap nonsense. Third was The Seagull, great actors sitting on green waiting room chairs.
I felt cheated by all three. I’d begun to think that Jamie Lloyd has no idea of what a theatrical performance is. Theatre isn’t just words. Ten people sitting in a line on stage reciting a script is not a play – it’s a table read. What wonderful direction is involved when actors do that? What a waste that was of Emilia Clarke, Indira Varma, Robert Glenister. A child could have directed it.
Then came Sunset Boulevard. He tried his best but he couldn’t spoil the beauty of the score and of course he had a fantastic performer in Nicole Scherzinger. But just what does this director have against actually creating a world on stage?
So I was a bit worried about The Tempest, and having spent so much money on a good seat to see a genuine Hollywood superstar in the flesh.
But actually I rather enjoyed it. I thought the set was very dramatic – a very different island to the one I’d always envisioned. I don’t know where you were sitting but I was in the stalls, row D, and when the wind machine started blowing that curtain around, I could definitely feel the fury of the storm.
The acting was good all round. I understand that Sigourney forgot her words a few times earlier in the run, but for this one she was word perfect, very commanding, fearsome and protective. At the start I thought she was doing a kind if neutral accent – I didn’t notice any lisp, I have to say – but found it funny that by the end she had gone back to her normal voice and I could hear Ripley speaking from the stage. All the supporting performers were good too, and though I was rather put off by the grotesque Caliban but gradually warmed to the portrayal.
As I was near the front I couldn’t see what went on behind me, but I saw no one leave during the performance itself and only noticed one drop-out after half-time.
So what bout Much Ado? The thing is, I saw this not long ago at the National, with Katherine Parkinson, and it was inventive and hilarious, with wonderful set design. Humour does not seem to be Lloyd’s strong point and I’m worried we’ll lose everything that makes the play so enjoyable.
None the less, I’ll be there.
I'm clearly in a minority here because I didn't think this production was that bad (and I also quite enjoyed R&J as well). Though I do agree on some aspects like the end scene with the circling, and maybe it was a bit too minimalist for my liking. But in terms of the performances, I rather enjoyed them, particularly Ariel and Caliban.
I do have my ticket booked for Much Ado, and I am more nervous about that one as it is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, plus it is a comedy and I do worry about him interpreting it too far that it comes across as pretentious.
As a big Much Ado enjoyer, Im also kind of concerned about a Jamie Lloyd version. Making it actually bleak and stark ruins the point of it being something of a study of the melodrama of the wealthy and bored. He can go for it after the wedding, but if it's like that from act one, it'll be tonally weird.
Mil-aan? Surely, Milan (rhymes with ran). Thank you.
I saw the Donmar production of The Tempest back at the pop-up Kings Cross Theatre in 2016. It was so good I fear I never want to see another one!