Endgame

Beckett is seldom easy, complex and ambitious for both performers and for the audience. Emporium, undaunted, take on this darkly comic work and more than do it justice. Starting with the setting, beautifully realised by designer Gary Blair as are his stunningly grim costumes, this is a production of very high values. Duncan Drury makes a fine awkward Clov, jerking and simmering around the platform. Rory McCallum’s Nagg is wonderfully chipper and demented and Bridget Mastrocolo’s Nell is disarmingly vague. Mike Goodenough’s beautifully static performance has all the tragedy and menace needed to give a truly terrifying edge to the role of Hamm although at times the sheer volume of his delivery and perhaps the hollow acoustic mean that his words are lost. None the less this is a stunning performance. James Weisz directs with skill, not afraid to use the space, to use silence and to allow the comedy to speak for itself in this grim tale. One year in and I am loving Emporium’s ambitious approach to running and programming theatre.

Emporium, 9 April 2014

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