Pericles – Swan Theatre

We all have our off days and I think, amongst learned academics, we can safely agree Shakespeare was having one when he wrote “Pericles”. Not only is it a ramshackled, riotous romp of a plot with some unfathomable coincidences, it also seems Bill is not the only name on the poster. George Wilkins, who I’m sure I don’t need to remind you, was a victualler, panderer (Google it), dramatist and pamphleteer, who dripped his quill in the ink pot, too. People better informed then I seem to think the Bard was responsible for the first half before handing over his parchment. Rarely is the play performed, so it’s a gamely director who’ll have a stab at it and the director on this occasion is new RSC co-AD, Tamara Harvey who, eighteen years after the previous production, clearly thought it was time to try again.

It’s a promising start as Antiochus, King of Antioch, offers the hand of his daughter to any man who solves his riddle. Pericles solves it and immediately finds himself on the horns of a dilemma. If he answers incorrectly, he’ll be killed. If he answers correctly, he’ll be killed. That’s where the duff-duffs would come in Eastenders, but we have a whole evening ahead of us yet…

Alfred Enoch makes a fair fist of a characterless character as Pericles, holding his own through some odd plotting and motivational twists, providing an endearing performance throughout. Christian Patterson grabs the first act by the throat and delivers a vibrant and joyous performance which seems a hybrid between Brian Blessed and a panto dame both beguiling, solid and fun. However it is this very sense of joy and theatricality which throws so many of the other performances into stark relief. His ebullience and contact with the audience (sorely missed in act two) leaves him marooned on his self made island which we all adore but no one else can keep up with. The production holds itself together, though, and Harvey’s imagination and insight could have been given greater reign with a larger budget but, like all previous Pericleses and perhaps all future ones (unless some theatrical genius of the twenty-first century spots something we’ve all been missing for the last four hundred years) it never solves the problem of itself. Despite a series dramatic events and a surprising ending it has no narratological unity, says little about the human condition and lacks any great lines. What’s your favourite Pericles quote? No, me neither. As I say, we all have our off days …

Playing until 2nd September, https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/

Reviewer: Peter Kinnock

Reviewed: 9th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: