Theatre

Anna Karenina At Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Review

TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.

Reviewed by J Wright

Anna Karenina written by Leo Tolstoy was originally an epic novel telling of love and betrayal over several generations in Russia, contrasting society against a more rural existence in the late 1800’s.

This adaptation by Helen Edmundson, first performed in 1992, has been yanked into more recent years.
I felt the costumes wove a concept of Imperial Russia into 20th century Britain, blending traditional peasant headcloths with neon and pulling it off disturbingly well. Or a modern version of corsetry into the more opulent gowns worn by socialites in era’s gone by. The designs behind this created adaptive costumes, some of which changed onstage before us. A feat more often part of theatre these days but one, whilst I admire it, I don’t really want to see.

I recognised the actress in the role of Anna Karenina, but I couldn’t place her. I enjoyed her elegance in the role and her portrayal of the desperation the character felt, trapped in her position in society, loving one man, beholden to another and would be damned therefore by society. The actress is Adelle Leonce and I had recognised her from A Discovery Of Witches. Adelle is well cast for the role and so very capably gave Anna a longing, a strength and a voice she needed, I wished there had been more opportunity for her to really let rip but the style of the adaptation created constraints rather than abandoning them.

The adaptation brings various events into performance in quite modernistic theatre, concepts which have been around for a while, a stripped back and multifunctional stage, modernistic lighting and a series of doors which are back lit to great effect at times. On occasion it wasn’t clear where the action was taking place. We might not always need to know because the story should endure, however I wanted to know. And where the scenes segued I was confused
.
There were scenes, emphasised by music which built, slowly rolling from one thing to another and taking the audience along with it. I wanted to be swept up and lost in the life of Anna Karenina but it lacked the opulence I felt the production might have benefitted from. There were some outstanding transitional movement scenes depicting the passion between Anna and Vronsky and I enjoyed some of the later scenes in this, understanding also it portrays their love in a less traditional way, but otherwise I wasn’t convinced of their desire.

Whilst the cast are talented, I feel this adaptation has lost something of the true story and become something of its own.  (editor’s note – this is the reviewer’s opinion.  Another person may have a different opinion of the show). An audience member, might, if they don’t know the original story never be able to compare the two as so many theatre techniques are thrown in that it muddies the water and the true story is more difficult to perceive. Interpretation in theatre can be a wondrous thing and theatre is the medium in which incredible stories can be told and shared in the most phenomenal ways. I feel that this interpretation has lost the true essence of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and created another story, similar, but not the same.

Anna Karenina is part of The Crucible’s 50th Anniversary year and the line-up looks outstanding for the year.

If you’re parking in the car park known locally as The Cheese Grater, theatre patrons can enjoy reduced price parking with a voucher available at the box office.

Rating: 2.5/5

Tickets are available here.

Box office 0114 249 6000

Tickets cost from £15.00 – £33.00

The show is on from 5th – 26th February 2022.

Show More
Back to top button