Ellen Couzens enjoys a theatrical adaptation of a cinematic classic
It might have been purely coincidental of course, but this morning it felt like Facebook knew I was off to review a production of The Shawshank Redemption at The Theatre Royal, Bath.
According to a titbit of cinematic trivia that popped up in my newsfeed, October 1994 appears to have been a pretty awesome time for film releases, with Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump,The Lion King and Jurassic Park all showing in cinemas around the world alongside The Shawshank Redemption – wow, what a month that must have been for cinephiles!
I had a bit of a chuckle to myself imagining how someone would come up with a stage adaptation of Jurassic Park or even Forrest Gump – I mean, imagine that scene where Forrest runs for miles upon miles, how would that work on the compact stage of Bath’s Theatre Royal?
And that really is where a skilful and creative theatre adaptation can successfully hold its own against the original book or film so I was intrigued how this particular adaptation of the novella by legendary writer, Stephen King, would play out.
For anyone who doesn’t know the plot, this story, spanning the late 40s and well into the 1960s, is set in Shawshank Prison, or, ‘The Shank’ as it is unaffectionate referred to by its inmates – a harsh, US state penitentiary. We meet Red ((Ben Onwukwe), a resourceful procurer of things, a ‘prison fixer’ and a charismatic storyteller who is both inmate of Shawshank, having been incarcerated for life, and also narrator of the story of Andy Dufresne, Red’s fellow inmate and friend.
Andy Dufresne (Joe Absolom), a banker in Maine, finds himself convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover and, despite fiercely protesting his innocence, is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in Shawshank Prison. Red and Andy strike up an enduring friendship that, during the early days of Andy’s incarceration, sees Red become Andy’s sage, providing him with the knowledge that helps Andy survive the horrific trials of prison life.
As their long sentences stretch on before them, both men search to find some kind of purpose and meaning in their lives despite the deprivation and inhumanity of life in ‘The Shank’. Meanwhile, during his incarceration, Dufresne’s financial acuity comes to the attention of corrupt, evangelical prison Warden Stammas (Mark Heenehan) who uses Dufresne to help him launder money, meaning that he will stop at nothing to keep Dufresne prisoner.
Telling an inescapably harrowing story, this production capitalises on its brilliantly bleak and oppressive set by designer Gary McCann and boasts some well-crafted scenes that do shock and convey the harsh realities of prison life for these inmates. There are also lighter, more endearing moments where we glimpse the depth of friendships made and loyalties forged, alongside a handful of well-judged funny bits.
There are some solid performances amongst both principal and supporting cast members. I found Ben Onwuke’s expansive stage presence, charm and southern American drawl convincing, which was helped by a familiar nod to Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of the same character.
I also enjoyed Kenneth Jay’s assured performance as Brooksie, the old librarian, whose touching portrayal of a man so institutionalised by a lifetime of incarceration that he was ultimately unable to cope with life outside of Shawshank. For me, however, the stand-out performance by far was from the talented Coulter Dittman who, although only appearing in the second half, captivated in his role as Tommy Williams.
Overall this was an enjoyable play if you like the original film but I’m not convinced it completely works as a piece of theatre. The keen focus on plot and what seemed, too often, like an attempt to squeeze in as many iconic moments from the film as possible occured at the expense of the complexity and authenticity of the characters and an opportunity to craft an exceptional stand-alone theatre production in its own right.
The Shawshank Redemption appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 27th March to Saturday 1st April. To book tickets call the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk