Rough Magic, Shakespeare’s Globe Review
Photo by Manuel HarlanWritten by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
By the pricking of my thumbs, something witchy this way comes to Shakespeare’s Globe this summer. Within the indoor Sam Wanamaker Theatre, there is a summer school of a different kind where young children and families are invited to join a Magical Binding Ceremony of Apprentice Guardians. This play is a wholesome spectacle filled with charms, spells and a cheeky beast or two.
Named from Prospero’s quote in The Tempest, Rough Magic is the Globe’s second family focused play by Splendid Productions. Where last year’s Midsummer Mechanicals focused on a sequel to Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rough Magic focuses on the three witches whose fatal prophecy caused so much doom in “the Scottish play”. However, in this play they are more scatterbrained than sinister and the Witches are in charge of “the book of destiny” and work with other fantastical creatures in the magical realm to support human’s destinies. Within this introduction, we meet fairies, including the infamous Puck, magical beasts (including a tentacled monster who snakes through the trapdoor at entertaining points), ghosts including Banquo and the shadow spirit whose magic tricks were highly entertaining. There are many hilarious references to Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest for adults and children alike to spot.
The cast was an awesome foursome in portraying many characters. This included Rosemarie Akwafo as an endearing Nona whose well-meaning efforts to help cause chaos and strife. Her strong-willed aunts clash and support Nona with loving bickering. They are Audeja, played with fantastic comedic timing by Bryony Twydle and dour Morai played with charismatic panache by Janet Etuk. Janet Etuk also plays a sparkling and dynamic Puck who has many tricks to play on the audience and villain. Kerry Frampton stole the show for me as Villain Henry IX, who is using Prospero’s staff to change their destiny for the more chaotic. Frampton was deliciously vile to the other characters and utterly brilliant in controlling and compelling the audience. The children absolutely loved to boo her and at some points tried to turn it into a panto shouting “They went behind you” and were “Deliciously snitchy”.
The plot is fairly simple but packed into 1 hour 44 minutes of fast-paced fun. At times it can stretch out a bit but the pacing especially in Act 2 is brilliant and its not so fast-paced that it would overwhelm younger viewers. Rough Magic perfectly hits the sweet spot for engaging children from 5-12. There is also a strong moral point elegantly displayed where “it’s not the mistakes you make but what you do about them” and the concept of everyone trying their best to make their own way in the world with grace and perseverance was a lovely message for the children to learn in this show.
The Bard would be proud of the fart jokes and whimsical air of cheeky puns and subtle references to his other works. There are also many opportunities for the children in the audience to contribute, including silly spells to use against Henry IX and suggestions on how to keep him distracted. Many of the children in the audience were completely spellbound when watching and all couldn’t wait to give ideas. This approach was done in a very supportive way to the children and definitely encouraged the shyer children to engage further than they might otherwise. Many of those said families were also in the gift shop afterwards begging for more Shakespeare so it certainly had a positive effect on them.
This is a phenomenal adaptation of the Bard’s works in a fresh point of view that succeeds in entertaining the parents as much as the children. I was often laughing loudly and many of the parents guffawed more than the children with some of the more interesting Shakespeare connections and Kerry Frampton’s excellent ad-libs. If you wish to have a fun afternoon at the theatre and introduce Shakespeare to your children in a positive, light hearted way then I strongly urge you to take your family to see this show this summer.
Running until 24th August at 11am, 1:30pm or 3pm.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
