The Canterbury Tales, Southwark Playhouse - review

Chaucer effect: passions run high in the tavern
10 April 2012

Now here's a conundrum. It seems tough to reprimand a company for creating a production that is too atmospheric but when the background comes to the fore caution needs to be exercised.

Director Juliane von Sivers and her seven-strong cast have ingeniously transformed Southwark's cavernous playing space into an authentic medieval tavern, complete with hayloft, bench seating and a fully-functioning bar.

The actors leap about and play all manner of musical instruments, and there are delightful between-tales singalongs of folk songs. The mood- relaxed and earthy - is, theoretically, perfect for Chaucer. The only trouble is that all this action means everyone is pulling everyone else's focus like it's another flagon of ale, and the storytelling itself gets lost in the din. Our host, Harry Bailey (John Canmore), introduces seven of the tales, adapted into modern English by Tom Daplyn, but it seemed to me that a lot of the audience were bewildered a lot of the time. I certainly was.

No one could accuse the company of under-acting, although Ellie Moore does well as a succession of mischievous, nubile young wenches. It's good bawdy fun but the drinking and the singing come out tops.

Until January 7 (020 7407 0234, southwark playhouse.co.uk)

The Canterbury Tales
Southwark Playhouse
Shipwright Yard
Corner of Tooley St & Bermondsey St
SE1 2TF

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