The Tempest
Halifax/Touring
 
Will the Kidz (sic) be delighted and enthused? Probably not. The Shakespeare 4 Kidz company purports to make Shakespeare accessible for primary school and earlier secondary school age ranges but, while previous company productions seen by this reviewer have been reasonably faithful and quite enjoyable, The Tempest is little more than a pantomime and not an especially memorable one at that.

Prospero’s cave looks something of an afterthought, resembling a garden shed in the corner of an allotment. There is some enthusiasm on stage and signs of potential in a predominantly young cast. Ali James who plays Ariel can look forward to a bright and busy future. Ed Burnside, who plays Stephano, is a more than useful prospect and, if children watching this show do go to the theatre in four or five years, they will surely see him in more prominent roles.

There are one or two good songs by Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett but little in the way of enterprising choreography. The pair’s anthem Reunited has an infectious feel and some children were mouthing the words as they left.

Overall there is a feeling of dumbing way, way down. Having a character cry out “Does my bum look big in this?” is going too far. It is unpleasantly patronising. Children who are becoming fascinated with the Bard’s language will not know what to make of it.
 
Kevin Berry
 
© 2004 The Stage Newspaper