Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2010.
Cast: Ken Bradshaw, Kevin Harvey, Matti Houghton, Paul McCleary, Eileen O’Brien, Emily Pithon, Stuart Richman, Nicholas Shaw, Hugh Skinner.
The Everyman theatre is well renowned for its staging of hard, gritty and sometimes disturbing plays. None so more perhaps than the opening play of the new season, John Ford’s ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore.
There may be those who would shy away from the subject of incest, murder and impinging insanity but director Chris Meads has built a reputation for getting the best out of actors even in the most unusual of plays and in Tis Pity he has struck gold again with a cast that tackles some of humanity’s base instincts and wanton desires.
The play deals with, primarily, the relationship between Giovanni, played with incredible passion by Hugh Skinner, and Annabella. Two siblings who take family love a stage too far and fall into a reckless relationship that will leave no emotion unturned even through to the dramatic and bloody end.
The vessel of Giovanni’s desire was played superbly by the delightful Matti Houghton, who was put through the ringer, emotionally and physically, both by Giovanni and the looming figures of her husband Soranzo, played by Nicholas Shaw and Soranzo’s man servant Vasquez, portrayed brilliantly by Ken Bradshaw.
The dynamic between these four actors was simply stunning and even drew the unexpected collective draw of breath from the audience in some of the plays more shocking parts.
For some the subject matter is one that shouldn’t be discussed and possibly be shunned for its implications on the moral backbone of the country but for all those who were involved in the construction of the play, be it the actors, the production team or the Everyman Theatre,
should feel a great deal of pride in using this play to get the message home that sometimes some subjects need airing in public, whether to show contempt of the actions or to serve as a warning for anybody who falls into the path of unnatural desires.
Ian D. Hall