From actor and leading man Jordan Luke Gage comes a heart-rending musical tale chronicling the joy and sorrow of a forbidden love. Based on a real 18th-century historical event, Redcliffe is the story of William Critchard, a struggling young wallflower who is forever changed upon meeting and falling in love with naval lieutenant Richard Arnold in a Britain where such acts are punishable by death.
Bringing such a harrowing event to Southwark Playhouse Borough, despite the limited available historical record, is no easy task. This makes it all the more impressive that Gage and the creative team not only deliver massively but also build such a vibrant and complex world around it.
Directed by Paul Foster, the look and feel of the production is minimalist, but everything on display is utilised with intention. From the pale, maritime-coloured 18th-century garb to the lighting display that served to accentuate every mood, to some tragically clever usage of props, each of these creative decisions enveloped the audience in the world, making every twist and turn hit that much harder.
What some might find surprising about a show with such a tragic historical subject is how funny it is, particularly in the first act, where the people of Redcliffe are relentlessly charming, filled with bombastic, vibrant personalities, and always armed with a quip or a witty remark. It’s these moments of levity that make the much heavier second act all the more effective, as a friendly, jovial community reveals its darker undertones.
Much of Redcliffe’s success can be placed upon its cast. Every member of the ensemble is wonderfully on-song, fully committing to the physical comedy and the emotional complexity of the world that’s created. Gage is gut-wrenching as Critchard, bringing to life a shy, repressed character made a new man by a complete and thrilling love; as the character begins to make peace with his circumstances, Gage plays this shift with a tragic subtlety that earns every tear shed by the audience, and his chemistry with Daniel Krikler’s Richard is electric. Other standout performances include Rebecca Lock’s mother, who, alongside Jess Douglas Welsh’s Abigail, provides the beating heart of the show. The audience hangs on every word and note of both performers; both serve as a source of emotional strength for William while also having their own internal conflicts and charms.
If there’s one area that only slightly fails to live up to such a high-quality production, it’s the music. While the compositions match the ambition, scale, and tenderness of the production, there are numerous occasions where the lyricism can feel somewhat derivative, leading to songs that lack the distinctness and originality of the production as a whole. Still, there are charming numbers, including Richard and William’s “A Million Things I Know” and the ensemble’s “The Girls From Redcliffe”.
All in all, Redcliffe is a production that has it all to do but sticks the landing. With assured performances and a magnificent creative team, Gage evokes a beautiful, joyous, and defiant spectacle from such a tragic event, and leaves the Southwark Playhouse Borough audience with hearts in pieces but smiles on their faces.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
