Wilton’s Music Hall – until 11th May 2024
Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith
4****
Herman Melville’s classic tale adapted here by Sebastian Armesto is brought to life by a multi-talented ensemble of actors and musicians. Created by Simple8 in association with Royal & Derngate, this production of Moby Dick is about one man’s quest for knowledge, another man’s need for a revenge, and a whale that absolutely does not want to be harpooned.
At the beginning, we meet Ishmael, a young sailor in Massachusetts who wants to see the world and so goes in search of a whaling boat. On his way he befriends the gentle harpoonist Queequeg and together they board the Pequod, captained by the infamous Ahab. Captain Ahab is seeking vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale who took his leg on a previous voyage. He obsessively charts the seas and tracks the whale pods in the hope of finding and killing Moby Dick.
This original piece of theatre directed by Jesse Jones skillfully captures life on a whaling boat, all tension and exhilaration as they set out to find the whale. The production is soundtracked by musicians who are part of the ensemble led by musical director Jonathan Charles. They innovatively create the sounds of life at sea using instruments and parts of the set designed by Kate Bunce. When first seen, i is a simple construction of scaffolding rigs, but as the play comes to life so does the set. The sides swing in, and the crew of the ship assemble, hoist, and climb, using every part to great effect. Wilton’s Music Hall is a grand old Victorian venue, all distressed decor and iron pillars which echoes the inside of the a ship, making it perfect for this production.
While this adaptation sometimes has a bit of an issue with pacing and some of the characters feel underdeveloped, the ensemble are superb. Mark Arends as Ishmael is all naivety and excitement, while Guy Rhys is fantastic in the role of the mysterious Captain Ahab. Countering Ahab’s dogged determination, is the sensible Starbuck, played with a calm certainty by Hannah Emanuel. The whole cast sings, shifts the set about, and plays an instrument whether it’s a violin or a scrubbing brush.
While this adaptation of a classic tale that everyone knows (“it’s about a whale?”) at times lacks depth, the beautiful execution by an extraordinary cast and crew of talented people more than makes up for it. Catch this compelling theatrical experience as it tours the country this spring and summer, you won’t regret it. And who knows, maybe I’ll read the book.