Crucible
associate director Michael Grandage’s final production as
director for Sheffield is a powerhouse study of politics and family
passion. Newly-translated by Mike Poulton, Schiller’s seven-hour
epic of life at the court of Philip II now comes in at under three
hours and becomes a tense, thundering melodrama.
At one level it is a study of the nature of dictatorship and its
relationship with the church - a theme as relevant today as it
ever was. But Grandage knows that the heart of this drama is the
dysfunctional family of the king, unable to relate to his idealistic
son, cold to his dutiful wife and completely divorced from any
sense of humanity. It is an extraordinary performance from Derek
Jacobi, cold and cruel but brought to thrilling life by flashes
of grim, wicked humour and unexpected and explosive moments of
intense passion.
Richard Coyle’s Carlos may be a very different
man but the intensity of his own feelings does reveal a surprising
link with his father as they move towards the final and inevitable
tragedy of a family at war. Claire Price is outstanding as the
captive royal wife Elizabeth, with premier division support from
Elliot Cowan as the noble Rodrigo, Una Stubbs transformed into
an monster of protocol and Ian Hogg as a professional courtier
and survivor.
Played at an almost unbearable level on intensity, this is a production
that never slackens its grip as it heads towards a thundering
climax. It may be handsome costume drama - Christopher Oram’s
design is severe and superb - but it is also a fine example of
a political thriller at its most exciting, heavy with atmosphere
and passion.
