I understand what Julian Cervello is trying to accomplish with this performance. I appreciate his commentary about accessibility and the loss of meaning and atmosphere, although I think he's stretching it a bit to call his production post-modern. It's good in theory. In reality, it's a bit of a snooze. I'm a bit hard of hearing, so every time the damn flute music would come on, I couldn't hear a word he said - and even when I could hear him, my brain had to work so hard at translating that I couldn't keep up. Instead of it being fun for me in the audience, it became a chore. Because it was so much work for the audience, it would have been way better if he'd chosen to cut it off after the preamble, instead of doing the whole thing. It was simply too much, and even introducing the puppet show for the actual tale didn't break it up enough to keep my interest. As well, the change from monologue to puppet show was kind of awkward.
The other major problem with this show is that he's in the wrong venue. He makes use of the stage quite well, but he's down on the stage floor a lot. I'm sure it was great fun for the people in the front row, but for those of us in the back, it was just more lost time, where we couldn't even see what he was doing to try and put the pieces together. He really needs to be performing somewhere with risers! Of course he had no choice in that matter, but it's something to keep in mind - come early and get a good seat if you're short!
This was one of the shows I was looking forward to the most, and I was disappointed. I think that as a contemporary audience, we need to be introduced to the 'real' Chaucer a bit more modestly - maybe find a middle ground between immersing the audience in an ancient dialect and modernizing it completely.
If you're up for a challenge, I'd say don't go late at night on a Friday after a long work week! And do definitely re-read the Wyf of Bathe before you go, so that you already know what's going to happen.
Please don't let the above reviewer's issues put you off this amazing show. I saw it today with a group that seemed to love the show as much as I did. I sat in the back and didn't have any trouble seeing all of it, though the reviewer is right about one thing--the artists have no control over what venue they are assigned. Frankly, if you are hard of hearing, that is something you will have to deal with in many theatrical arenas, but it certainly isn't the artist's problem. Cervello projects beautifully and his enunciation is superb. As another reviewer noted, he makes middle English easy to understand, and even if you don't get every word, you certainly end up understanding both the prologue and the story simply because this young man is a brilliant communicator. Thanks, Julian, for introducing hundreds of people to Chaucer in such a joyful manner.
Hmmm. What's going on here? My friends and I went to see this show today and we all LOVED it! I realise that opinions can differ - but what is this poster talking about? I think I like this new show even better than Canterbury ****tails. It somehow has more drama in it. He was never "down on the floor" except during one brief and very dramatic moment that I don't want to spoil. The occasional background music added to the overall mood and were certainly no match for his clear voice. If you feel that having to actually pay attention is a chore, well...
Shame that the burden of accommodating the audience's shortcomings falls on the performer. Here are a few tips for grouchy Fringe-goers:
- If you are hard of hearing (and apparently seeing), do not sit in the back row.
- If you do not want to think, do not buy tickets for a show in Middle English on a Friday night after a hard work week (slinging burgers?). Your money might be better spent at the Family Fest venue. I don't think Aladdin's Secret Voyage is in the original Arabic, so maybe give that a try. But if you don't like puppets, stay away from The Night the Knight Learned Wrong from Right. If that venue is still too much, stay home and watch reruns of Two and a Half Men. Before Charlie Sheen left.
- If you want some middle ground between Chaucer's language and your simple tastes, I recommend the following:
Okay, I think you probably have enough to work on for now. If you have any other questions about how to improve your Fringe experience I'd be happy to help.
