This is the final play of the Gunpowder season at the RSC, bringing to a close five fascinating and thrilling interpretations of the high treason, corruption and power that was the gunpowder plot.
The title cleverly refers to the chattering classes, which plotted against the monarch, spreading rumours and stirring up civil unrest. It is interesting to see how well this play, written by Frank McGuinness, nestles next to others in the same series by Shakespeare and Ben Johnson. The comparisons are always going to be drawn and yet the script holds it own, with some great passages worthy of a second reading.
The play is powerfully brought to life with the help of the unlimited skills of the RSC, interesting direction by Rupert Goold and enough spectacular pyrotechnics to make a good bonfire night. Kevin Harvey is excellent as the Equivocator, the central character who weaves his way through the conscience of each character, exposing them for what they are and ruthlessly picking over them. Nigel Cooke is cool and unforgiving as Robert Cecil, James I’s chief minister, merciless in his desire to protect his master. The King, played by William Houston, brings that flicker of madness to proceedings that makes for an entertaining evening. His compulsive obsession with his own death and the “danger never dreamt of - that is the danger”, dogs him throughout his life and he wasn’t wrong about it. He is comforted by his ever-reassuring and long-suffering wife, played by Teresa Banham.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Content is copyright © 2012 The Stage Media Company Limited unless otherwise stated.
All RSS feeds are published for personal, non-commercial use. (What’s RSS?)
