News etc
Financial Times (11Jan01)
All lovers of Shakespeare will want to see the Royal Shakespeare Company s current production. And it will reward them. As Timon, [Michael Pennington] gives the most superlative demonstration of virtuoso, musicianly, intelligent verse-speaking to be heard in many seasons. What a beautiful voice; what an extraordinary range; what dazzling control.
The Daily Telegraph (11Jan01)
In [Gregory Doran]'s brisk, supple, imaginative staging, the story unfolds with both dramatic power and sardonic humour. He makes marvellous use of the jazz score that Duke Ellington composed for a 1960s Canadian production, and there is an edge of camp, with both a drag ball and a saucy scene set in a sauna. Even as accomplished an actor as [Michael Pennington] can't quite disguise the monotony of Timon's misanthropy, but he beautifully captures the dangerous allure of death to the despairing. The supporting cast do wonders in fleshing out their insubstantial roles, with particularly fine work from the authoritative [John Woodvine] as Timon's movingly loyal steward. The great [Richard McCabe], is at his sneering best as Apemantus.
Daily Mail (11Jan01)
In this splendidly austere revival by [Gregory Doran], [Michael Pennington] is simply magnificent: vocally supreme, acidly temperamental, and brimming with revealing, flawed self-centredness. There are three superb supporting performances: from [John Woodvine] as Timon's loyal steward, Flavius; [Richard McCabe] as the prophetic cynic Apemantus; and [Rupert Penry-Jones] as Alcibiades, hero-in-waiting to a timeless tragedy.
A notable Athenian falls prey to false friends and parasites because of his own beauty - now his money is almost gone. Spurning his false friends he hides in the woods outside the city where he finds gold, some of which he shares with Alcibiadies, himself unjustly banished, and his loyal servant. Eventually he dies and hearing of it Alcibiadies decides to revenge his death on the city.
