Edward II

Edward II

Written by Christopher Marlowe

Performed by Exeter Drama Company

At St Michaels Church, Alphington on Friday 17th May 2024

Directed by Ian Guy

 

Written by Marlowe around the year 1590AD this play is a story of a King and his desperate love for another man, eventually causing his ultimate violent death by the hands of the Lords who ‘serve‘  their sovereign but ultimately want to usurp him due to his inadequacies. It could almost be a modern tale of same sex love in the 20th Century, judged and accursed by many. Thank goodness the world is now a much more integrated and accepted place to live.

Staged within a church built around 1477AD with only its own lighting and minimal staging of a glowing brazier, the play begins as the king, Edward I, known also as Edward Longshanks is dead and his ineffectual son is king.  Edward II loves his teenage friend Piers Gaveston. Although their relationship status was historically uncertain, Gaveston had been banished to France, by Edward I due to his influence on his son.  We meet the gorgeous Gaveston, played by an actor of some quality, who is dressed, coquettishly,  in a pink laced shirt, silver grey jeggings, waistcoat, and blue patent ‘winklepicker’ shoes. With flowing blonde locks this actor is well cast as he reads a letter from Edward II, pleading with him to return to England, an action unwelcomed by the Earls and Countesses, Mortimer, Lancaster, Warwick and Pembroke and his most reverent the Bishop of Canterbury.

Edward II is portrayed uniquely by this actor, with a strong presence and superb diction, the relationship between him and Gaveston is affectionate and tender yet still he remains noble and of a kingly stature. A touching performance especially when explaining his loyalty to Gaveston is because ‘he loves me more than all the world’ and his anger with his Lord’s  ‘if I be king not one of them shall live’.

Edmund, brother of Edward, wearing an impressive silver and black mask, red shirt and black cape grasped the dilemma of this character well, with perfect diction, he showed the conflicting emotions even under the mask. 

Mortimer, a powerful character, was expertly portrayed by an actor who had never acted before, I am reliably informed. Incredible diction, with natural acting ability and believability too. Certainly, one to watch. As was the actor playing Spencer, who steps into Gaveston shoes as a favourite of the king, again, every word could be heard and understood by the audience.  The comedic Baldock, with his broad devon accent, worked well with Spencer and was perfectly kooky in pink glasses and purple waistcoat and dress coat. Both of these are servants of the very lovesick Lady Margaret de Clare who is perfectly gushing in her role.  Lancaster, who shows constant contempt for his sovereign, and the two gender swapped roles, that of a feisty Countess of Warwick and the somewhat laidback Countess of Pembroke, were all skillfully played by each actor. All easy to watch and looking fabulous in their costumes.

Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II, is a complicated character who moves from seeking attention from her husband to assisting Mortimer to plot Edward’s downfall. This was genuinely performed and you disliked her character as she betrays her husband.

Expertly acted were those of the supporting roles Edward Spencer, Countess of Arundel, the Bishop of Coventry  and the Abbott in fact there was not a weak link in the casting. I particularly ‘enjoyed’, if that is the right word to use, the perverse characterisations of both Matrevis and Gourney. These later scenes were well directed indeed and had to be handled carefully, especially the King’s eventual, torturous death, which thankfully was not in the view of the audience. Lightborn was portrayed well by this actor and showed the sadistic assassin well, toying with Edward as if he were prey.

At this point, I need to mention the incredible costumes worn by every actor. The idea of designing costumes using a ‘Steam Punk’ conception was genius. Using colours to represent the differing factions, such as red and black chosen for Edmund, Lancaster and Mortimer was very imaginative. Masks worn by various characters were just incredible and artistic. Edward II, dressed in an elegant crisp laced white blouson with lace cuffs and collar, a simple gold crown and black stylish cape pinned over one shoulder, looked the part. The Lady of Arundel’s feathered black collar, Mortimer’s tattooed face and metallic gloved left hand, leather straps across a black shirt with red and black pantaloons. Lancaster’s distinctive top hat, Countess Warwick’s gold gown and laced bodice, Countess Pembroke in an animal print top hat. Spencer’s distinctive red velvet jacket and I could go on and on. Suffice to say, the entire cast were all fabulously dressed which added so much to the performance. With beautifully created masks and unexpected weaponry such as a blunderbuss, a ray gun and various swords, the props department were given free reign and it worked. A huge well done to the wardrobe team and property department.

Every cast member was word perfect with this complicated script in early modern English, adapted slightly by the director in places to assist the flow and speed of the play and ending at the point of Edward’s death. I pay homage to Ian Guy for his attention to detail with each actor, his creativity with the production and his decision to work with little or no staging. Exeter Drama Company are blessed with a wealth of talent in their company and are never afraid to push boundaries and try something different . They always make it work. Having never seen a production of Edward II before I did not know what to expect but I was hugely impressed with this beautifully worked piece of theatre. My congratulation to all involved.

Lyn Burgoyne (Noda Representative, District 5, Mid and East Devon)

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