Culture Theatre

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin at Harold Pinter Theatre

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin at Harold Pinter Theatre | Theatre review

Adapting novels for the stage is inherently difficult. It varies, of course, depending on the length of the book, the complexity of its themes and the number of different occurrences during the plot. Here we have a comparatively long work with lots of build-up, several battle scenes, complex relationships and action which takes place over the course of a long time. This was largely the cause of the downfall of the 2001 movie adaption – and it certainly takes its toll on this play, as well.

It’s a great pity, since both writer Rona Munro and director Melly Still obviously have a great love for the source material. Almost every important detail is included, and the production is beautifully staged with a powerful set design by Mayou Trikerioti, atmospheric lighting by Malcolm Rippeth and a gorgeous cast. This is an always faithful, often moving and sometimes profound adaptation of the beloved novel from 1994. But it’s just too darn long, it’s too slow and it tries to cram too much in at once.

As a result of this, the protagonist Captain Corelli (Alex Mugnaioni) doesn’t even make an appearance until the final moments of the first half; everything before the interval marks little more than a setup for the second half. The pacing is inconsistent, with some moments feeling rushed and others dragged out. An abridged, more dexterously handled version would be absolutely fantastic, because a lot of the material is brilliant – such as when the soldiers freeze to death in the mountains, here represented by a white web entangling the victims of war.

Other production choices, on the other hand, are curious and distract from the action rather than offering genuine comedic relief. Does the audience really have to witness Dr Iannis, played by a very strong and warm Joseph Long, relieving himself multiple times on the herb bushes? Luisa Guerreiro’s impression of a goat may be impressively accurate, but it quickly outstays its welcome.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin has a very strong premise and much could have been done with it, but the script needs heavy editing before this becomes consistently high-quality theatre. As it is, the show is still successful enough, with some moments of excellence and an engaging story throughout – at least for an audience with a tremendous amount of patience.

Michael Higgs
Photo: Marc Brenner

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is at Harold Pinter Theatre from 4th July until 31st August 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

More in Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Southwark Playhouse

Natallia Pearmain

Cow | Deer at the Royal Court Theatre

Francis Nash

Every Brilliant Thing at Soho Place

Cristiana Ferrauti

Seagull: True Story at Marylebone Theatre

Jim Compton-Hall

Swag Age in Concert at Gillian Lynne Theatre

James Humphrey

“I’m able to speak and direct from a place of absolute and utter truth”: Sideeq Heard on Fat Ham at Swan Theatre

Cristiana Ferrauti

Storehouse at Deptford Storehouse

Benedetta Mancusi

The Switchboard Project at Hope Theatre

Thomas Messner

Deaf Republic at the Royal Court Theatre

Jim Compton-Hall