The Tempest, theatre review: A charming swansong full of raucous comedy

Comedy is to the fore in Dominic Dromgoole’s often raucous take on Shakespeare’s great vision of power and forgiveness. The opening shipwreck scene is unexpectedly amusing. Dominic Rowan is very funny as the jester Trinculo, improvising outrageously with boozy butler Stephano (Trevor Fox). Even the humour at the expense of patient courtier Gonzalo is unusually frisky.

It’s therefore strange that little is made of the gifts of Christopher Logan and Brendan O’Hea, two nimble comic performers here required to be drab grandees. What’s more, the play’s magical dimension is underdeveloped. Tim McMullan’s manipulative Prospero sounds fruity and has an easy authority, but never feels like a potent alchemist.

Pippa Nixon’s pained Ariel is plaintive and elusive, and Phoebe Pryce’s Miranda firm yet gracious, while rising star Fisayo Akinade has little of Caliban’s familiar festering lustfulness.

It is apt that the play in which Shakespeare seems to bid farewell to the theatre marks Dromgoole’s swansong at the venue he’s run so successfully for 11 years. His virtues as a director are evident — not least a love of vigorous physicality. But the production is solid, sometimes charming and sometimes a touch pedestrian, rather than matching his most adventurous work.

Until April 22, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, (020 7401 9919, shakespearesglobe.com)

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