April 11, 2006
I was excited when I spotted that the BT was playing host to a touring production of Shakespeare’s first big hit. Titus is a gory play – full of death, dismemberment and general unpleasantness. The prospect of this being played out in the intimate space of the BT was at once thrilling and slightly scary. Modern audiences can find stage violence comic rather than shocking. So it was with these thoughts in my mind that I approached the theatre eagerly.
Wildcard is a company new to me but I will certainly be seeking out their work in the future. This production was full of committed, nuanced and polished performances, excellently directed and ingeniously designed. With only 6 actors portraying a vast number of roles, the narrative was always clearly presented and at no point did I feel lost within the complicated plot.
It feels rather mean to point out any individuals for particular praise as this truly was an ensemble piece but Michael Lovatt and Matthew Rowland-Roberts excelled in their various incarnations – subtle changes of costume and demeanour making each character in individual. I could, perhaps, have done with a little more sense of the emotional rollercoaster that the title character has to undergo, but Andy Wisher was always convincing in his portrayal of a man driven mad by the evil surrounding him.
The BT is a very intimate space but throughout it was used with enormous flair and theatricality – involving us all in the unfolding drama. The music and lighting were unobtrusive and did their job in exactly the way required.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this production. It is not often that one gets to see this particular play and very rarely done with such care and intelligence. It is a pity that it is only in Oxford for 3 performances. Hopefully Wildcard will return – I, for one, will gladly welcome them back.
Wildcard is a company new to me but I will certainly be seeking out their work in the future. This production was full of committed, nuanced and polished performances, excellently directed and ingeniously designed. With only 6 actors portraying a vast number of roles, the narrative was always clearly presented and at no point did I feel lost within the complicated plot.
It feels rather mean to point out any individuals for particular praise as this truly was an ensemble piece but Michael Lovatt and Matthew Rowland-Roberts excelled in their various incarnations – subtle changes of costume and demeanour making each character in individual. I could, perhaps, have done with a little more sense of the emotional rollercoaster that the title character has to undergo, but Andy Wisher was always convincing in his portrayal of a man driven mad by the evil surrounding him.
The BT is a very intimate space but throughout it was used with enormous flair and theatricality – involving us all in the unfolding drama. The music and lighting were unobtrusive and did their job in exactly the way required.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this production. It is not often that one gets to see this particular play and very rarely done with such care and intelligence. It is a pity that it is only in Oxford for 3 performances. Hopefully Wildcard will return – I, for one, will gladly welcome them back.