In their fifty-eight years entertaining at The George Hotel Huntingdon, this is the first time Shakespeare at The George has performed “Pericles”. I would think that, like me, this play was unknown to a good many of the audience. I think it should maybe retitled as “The Adventures of Pericles” as he undertakes voyages to numerous countries pursued by the wicked, betrayed, by those he benefits, endures shipwrecks, encounters incest, relieves famine, meets wicked kings (and queens), participates in jousts, finds love, marries, enters fatherhood but loses his wife in the process, gives up his child to wicked and scheming step-parents Until bowed down by it all he returns home and falls into a melancholy. Then in the recognition scene father and daughter are brought together, and (spoiler alert!) with a “Winter’s Tale” twist, wife Thaisa comes back to life.

Of course, in the safe hands and theatrical expertise of Director Richard Brown you just knew there was going to be some unusual and exceptionally innovative ideas and one was not disappointed. There were lots of quirky touches with pirates, brothel keepers and whores, a mime onstage of an off-stage sword fight – I could go on. A directorial decision was made to dispense with the role of Gower, the Narrator, and distribute his words between the company. This to my mind worked well and kept an easy flow which, together with excellent programme notes, made the performance easy to follow.

The staging in the lovely courtyard has to blend in with the Tudor building and it did, there was good use of the built out balcony and stairs and a set of blocks, moved by the cast, used to great effect to create various settings. The excellent cloth seen through the archway created by Rob Barton was very impressive indeed. Max Richardson’s lighting design certainly came into its own once darkness fell and the whole thing was enhanced with lovely costumes by Helen Arnett and her costume team. The Musicians Ian Favell and Roy Bellas did a splendid job throughout then evening deservedly taking part in the curtain call – still playing, naturally.

Throughout the eighteen strong cast there was not a weak link. Ten actors James Barwise, Madeleine Forrester, Paula Incledon-Webber, Steph Hamer, Reuben Milne, Perry Incledon-Webber, Peter Finnigan, Josephine Hussey, Liz Barka played two, three or four roles. All totally committed and each creating absolutely believable characters. In less multiple but beautifully handled roles were Julez Hamilton as Thaisa/Antiochus’ daughter, Helen and Duncan McCallum as Lord and Lady Escanes. Lynne Livingstone imperious as Dioniza wife of Cleon Governor of Tharsus (played by Dean Laccohee), Guy Marshall (Helicanus) and SaTG stalwart Derrick Scothern as Simonides. Georgie Bickerdike gave a splendid performance as Pericles’ daughter Marina. Although I felt for her as, in a way she was a bit like Cinderella as she met, fell in love and married Lysimachus (James Barwise) rather suddenly. I wasn’t too sure about the trustworthiness of Lysimachus either – he seemed to know that Brothel Keeper rather well.

The captain of this somewhat turbulent ship of a play is, of course Pericles here played by Simon Maylor who was an absolutely excellent choice for the role. The point of the play is that we should care about Pericles and what happens to him, and how people treat him. This is one Shakespeare play which has an absence of long speeches or monologues so Pericles doesn’t rail against the fates, as he has every justification to. In the hands of such a fine actor this Pericles was personable, stoical yet likeable and absolutely right. No-one could deny him his happy ending. A bravura performance.

Loyal patrons of Shakespeare at the George come from far afield to see their annual productions and I am sure whether Shakespeare aficionados or no I think everyone would agree that this year’s offering was of the highest standard. In fact, a splendid production all round.