Wow! This sees Shakespeare well and truly blasted into the 21st century at almost warp speed.
The gadgets and paraphernalia of contemporary existence in the 2020s - gaming, mobile phones, texting, social media, even drones - impact on the audience as director Blanche McIntyre investigates the projection of online and offline personalities.
It has to be the most thoroughly up-to-date presentation of what is regarded as a ‘problem play’ – but which has a wealth of dark comedy lurking just beneath the surface.
So, a text published nearly 400 years ago – as we approach the quatercentenary of 1623’s First Folio – aligned to the most modern-day kit that you could imagine.
Perhaps it shouldn’t work… but it does.
As for plot, Dr Erin Sullivan concisely encapsulates it in her programme note, ‘Girl meets boy, girl pledges love to boy, boy says no thanks, girl responds by pursuing him relentlessly’.
The girl, Helena (played by Rosie Sheehy), is determined to wed the reluctant Bertram (Benjamin Westerby) – and does – but before their match can be consummated he and his pal Parolles flee France to fight in the Italian wars. Bertram also informs Helena he will only acknowledge their marriage if she has his child. Somewhat difficult to achieve when he’s hundreds of miles away.
But unstoppable Helena tracks them down and…
The play is known for its ‘bed trick’ where lusty Bertram is deceived during his wicked designs on another young lady called Diana (Olivia Onyehara), though the libidinous action actually takes place during a rave scene.
In her portrayal of the female lead, Sheehy effects a powerful progress from innocent schoolgirl to scheming wife and would-be-mother amid some truly admirable performances, not least Claire Benedict as the Countess, mother of Bertram, who exudes an entirely credible stateswoman-like quality, and Bruce Alexander’s growling King of France.
But Shakespeare gifted the character of Parolles with the best moments and Jamie Wilkes more than lives up to them with a hugely entertaining and hilarious performance.
Claire Benedict and Rosie Sheehy as The Countess and Helena Pic: Ikin Yum/RSC
From an uncertain start, the audience ended up roaring with laughter and giving a huge ovation for this perfectly paced production.
As one of the streetwise local girls in Florence could easily have said: ‘Problem play? No problema!’
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until October 8. For bookings, contact rsc.org.uk/box office 01789 331111
