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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewLife is a Dream
by Cassie Robinson
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If I’m asleep, then don’t let me wake. If this is real, don’t let me dream— Segismundo
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Dominic West as Segismundo
(Photo: Johan Persson) |
The plot revolves around Segismundo (Dominic West), a prince whose life has been spent cruelly incarcerated in isolation, after his father sought to avoid terrible prophecies of his son’s rule. When the king allows him a trial release, Segismundo displays brutal tyranny to his potential subjects and he is returned to his cell, told that his spell as free prince was simply a dream. A popular revolt releases him and tests whether he learnt anything from his experience of reversing fortunes. A subplot involving a woman abandoned by her royal lover, who dresses as a man to achieve vengeance, explores the 17th century Spanish code of honour and revenge.
This highly atmospheric production enjoys insinuating and uncannily mesmeric music, as well as subtle, effective lighting. A gold embossed map of the world against black, bare brick dominates the background, whilst cosmological spheres hang and spin from the ceiling. The scenes in the prison are suitably dark and harrowing, but the court is all golden opulence and lavish decadence. Inhabited by a top-notch cast, the stage creates a distinctive world of the extremes humanity is subjected to.
Dominic West, who has acquired popular following after his role in the HBO series The Wire, admirably plays Segismundo, smoothly veering from savage monster to sympathy. From abject suffering and violent volatility to childish tyranny with his new found power, West portrays the rawness of the semi-formed character, until after his salutary lesson in mortal truth, when he beautifully, clearly expounds both the poetry and the philosophy of precarious life.
Kate Fleetwood is wonderfully feisty and impassioned as the wronged woman Rosaura and Rupert Evans’ Astolfo is an adept political strategist. Malcolm Storry’s deeply-toned voice is put to good use as Basilio, the king who fulfils a prophecy through attempted avoidance, and Lloyd Hutchinson provides comic relief as Rosaura’s servant Clarion.
Helen Edmundson’s new translation at times flounders with the play’s high flown poetic language but is otherwise a clear, precise version of the play. Her lucid, accessible language importantly provides the context for the other elements in the production to shine. With excellent acting, a sophisticated design and elegant direction, this Life is a Dream is a moving, classic enquiry into some of the timeless questions facing humanity: free will and fate within what is only ever an ephemeral spell of life.
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Life is a Dream
Written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca In a new version by Helen Edmundson Directed by Jonathan Munby Starring: Dominic West With: Rupert Evans, Kate Fleetwood, David Horovitch, Lloyd Huthinson, Sharon Small, David Smith, Malcolm Storry, Dylan Turner Designer: Angela Davies Lighting designer: Neil Austin Composer and sound designer: Dominic Haslam Composer and musician: Ansuman Biswas Running time: Two hours 30 minutes with one interval Box Office: +44 (0)844 871 7624 Booking to: 28 November 2009 Reviewed by Cassie Robinson based on 14 October 2009 performance at the Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX (Tube: Covent Garden) |
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