The Houses Of York And Lancaster

A bloody history this, filled with power struggles, Machiavellian plotting and marvellously strong women plotting for and against their husbands as if they were toy soldiers. Unsurprisingly from the prestigious Globe Theatre On Tour, this Shakespeare thriller was as engaging and edge-of-your-seat as any Bond, Bourne or House Of Cards today.

Graham Butler depicted a King Henry VI still half child, quavering under the huge burden of monarchy, surrounded by vipers delightfully. Garry Cooper brought a fabulous gravitas as Gloucester, earthing the entire production, and in his absence we saw it spin and spiral rudderless in the mad tornado of blind power ambition. Both Mary Doherty (Queen Margaret) and Beatriz Romily (Duchess of Gloucester) cut powerful figures on the stage, neither bending but holding fast to their positions, or breaking compellingly. And a special aside for Roger Evans, whose Jack Cade had me singing all the way home and conjuring his dark adventures and deeds, such was his glee in the role.

This was the second in the trilogy currently playing at the Theatre Royal Brighton, but as such did not suffer for want of the other two. A strong, vicious and awesome story.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 18 July 2013

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