The Enchanters

‘The Enchanters’ by John Aitken, is the sequel to his most successful play ‘R and J as Performed by William Shakespeare and the Earl of Southampton’. This play is being presented by the Prickly Pear Ensemble in conjunction with the City of Perth, and is showing at The Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Roe Street, with performances until 4^th June. The 130-minute play starts at 7.30. There are two matinees, one on Thursday 2^nd and the other on Saturday 4^th both at 4.00 pm.
 
The actors come onto the footlights and take a pre-performance curtain call, before taking their places on the stage.
 
       It is the year 1599 and theatre owner, Richard Burbage (Richard Mellick), has had the rent increased on his Shoreditch theatre, the Lord Chamberlain’s control of censorship is getting out of hand and the City of London is causing unnecessary hassle. Wisely he decides to pull down ‘The Theatre’ and cart the timbers across the frozen Thames to Southwark, and rebuild outside the jurisdiction of his problems.
       The biggest predicament for works manager, Augustine Phillips (Ian Toyne), is as always the shortage of cash. A co-operative of ten members is gathered, with William Shakespeare (Nick MacLaine) being one. However, despite supplying sexual favours for years, to the overtly gay Earl of Southampton (Cody Fern), Shakespeare is having trouble getting money from his newly married sponsor.
        The rehearsals continue, with two of the young boy actors - employed to play young women in the plays - causing problems. Nathan (David McLeod) is happy to steal costumes and cross-dress all day, but Robin (Sam Tye) wants to progress to playing young men.
Eventually Southampton asks the Earl of Essex (Andrew Hale) to help with Shakespeare’s instalment.
        For the opening of the Globe, Shakespeare decides to write a play based on Henry V, but another group shareholder, Will Kempe (Andrew Hale) wants a more fun show starring his favourite character Falstaff. Shakespeare insists on developing a new jester / balladeer to be played by Robert Armin (Nick Candy).
        Things take a turn for the worse when the Secretary of State, Sir Robert Cecil (John Pratt) tells Queen Elizabeth 1 (Edgar Metcalfe) of a suspected treason plot, and she has the Chief Justice (John Aitken) look into this possible revolution.
         One of the Globe’s actors, William Sly (Ethan Tomas) hears of these treason accusations and tries to warn his fellow actors. Will the Globe be closed down? Will they all be beheaded?
 
 

Director John Senczuk capably controlled the large, star-studded cast. He kept the action moving rapidly through this production, as we watch with interest part of the Globe being built. John’s script, as always, is beautifully written. It is filled with interesting details of the day, perhaps a little too many details as I felt occasionally that the script was ‘manufactured’ to fit in the information. After this little whinge, I have to say that the author’s crafting of the dialogue and storyline was wonderful as he held the audience’s interest for the full play. Some of the passages, such as those of Queen Elizabeth were deliciously poignant and poetic.

It was a delight to see Edgar Metcalfe back with us in Perth, and still performing with the touch of a master. His stage presence, along with final year’s WAAPA student, Nick MacLaine, was magnificent. Congrats also to Andrew Hale for his performances as Will Kempe and Essex.

The simple, yet extremely effective set (designer John Senczuk) was of rustic beams and curtains. The lighting by Trent Suidgeest was once again exceptional; he helped capture the mood of scenes ranging from regal to execution with superb choice of lighting angles and colour.

The audience generally seemed pleasantly surprised at how John Aitken’s skilled approach to such a simple topic, in an era few of us know much about, turned out to be so enthralling. Often such plays leave the audience as though they have been to a heavy going lecture of facts. Here we have a serious though enchanting script that will please all age groups. Shakespeare’s magic lives on.