The Shawshank Redemption

by Zoe Rafah

The Shawshank Redemption was originally a Hollywood film about a men’s prison, which was structured to crush the hope out of the inmates.

But in the mist of adversity, a young inmate by the name of Andy Dufresne celebrates the triumphs of the human spirit, helped by the friendship he had with fellow inmate Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding.

Now they have recreated all the raw emotion from the film and taken it to the theatre, starring Kevin Anderson, as Andy, who acted in many films including Sleeping with the Enemy.

Having seen the movie version of Shawshank and loving it so much that I have my own personal copy, I thought of the cliché, “This is going to be a tough act to follow.”

Originally staring Hollywood heavy weights Tim Robbins, as Andy, and Morgan Freeman, as Red, I was prepared for disappointment.

As the curtains rose, I was immediately struck by male nudity as three prisoners, including Andy were initiated into prison life with lice powder and a bundle of prison clothes.

Throughout the whole play, up until the final redemption, the lighting was dim and shadowy to reflect the overall repressive feel of the Shawshank Prison. The stage had side and rear prison bars from floor to ceiling.

A brilliant production

The director, Peter Sheridan, did not stray from the captivating performance of Robbins and Freeman. In fact there was nothing fresh about Red and Andy on stage compared to the film but, it was a brilliant production of an innocent man (Andy) subjected to all sorts of monstrosities and indignities. 

This made you at ease with the adventurous attempt to recreate such a classic, and the Andy that we all fell in love with in film was just as present on stage. 

There is something very innocent and endearing about the male inmate connection born out of Andy’s strong and kind spirit. A spirit, which although defends what is right, is without malice. Andy brings hope, trust and goodness to a previously fragmented and selfish institution of repressed and hopeless men.

This was perfectly captured on stage and inevitably, I cried along with Red, at the much-deserved redemption at the end!  

 

The Shawshank Redeption

Until November 29
Wyndhams Theatre
32-36 Charing Cross Road
Leicester Square
London
WC2H 0DA