Shakespeare's Cymbeline @ Just The Tonic at The Caves

Free Range Productions interpretation of Shakespeare's Cymbeline has everything that makes for a good Shakespearian production. As soon as you walk in, the very room in Just The Tonic at The Caves seems to have been made to house a kingly court, and the setting of the stage, though simple, easily creates the right atmosphere, with the particularly inspired use of cage-like fencing to create separate rooms without any barriers to sight. The actors often enter from the back of the room, walking through the centre of the audience and allowing them to break down the performer/spectator barrier without having to explicitly invite the audience into the world. It is a clever and subtle way of bringing the audience in.

The performances are all very strong and the actors very capably produce all the allegiances and sympathies the play intends you to feel. You will root for Imogen and Posthumus from the very first scene and wish for the queen's true intentions to be discovered. Very few actors master the look of such disgust that can be seen when this Queen looks on her step-daughter, and her love for her son borders on the worrying. Furthermore, although it is a small cast there is no confusion in the doubling up of roles, it simply goes to showcase the actors talents even further, astounding the audience with how quickly they can slip between personas. Sometimes sexy, sometimes fully mastering the spirit of war - with beautifully choreographed fight scenes - sometimes touching, heartwarming or filled with despair, this production will bring you through it all. Referred to at times as one of Shakespeare's 'problem plays' Cymbeline certainly hasn't posed a problem for this company.