If anyone is thinking about going to 'La Bete' but is not quite sure... then give in to temptation and I'm sure you won't live to regret it. I saw the play last night (Wednesday) with little idea of what to expect and was enthralled. This modern play is a pastiche of Moliere, complete with rhyming couplets. Its fast, witty, modern writing adds just the right amount of zest as well as making it easily understandable (if you can keep up with the pace). The events occur over a single evening in 17th century France, though the plot is overshadowed by the rather eccentric characters.
111theatre's production is glorious - a visually evocative set, period costumes and an unpretentious staging which frees the cast to deliver the dialogue/action with a panache, accuracy and pace that leaves you simply speechless. The play opens with a 20 minute monologue delivered with only a couple of other actors on stage to play off the speech, which they do remarkably well to great comic effect. The whole 20 minutes is spellbinding - hilarious and totally over the top in a role that is an actor's wet dream and pushed to its fabulous limit in this production.
I found the plot to be the play's weaker aspect. But this is easily forgiven by letting yourself revel in the myriad of ridiculous, comical moments that simply keep on being created through clever banter, physical interplay and sheer madness, such as the maid who will only talk in monosyllabic words that rhyme with 'blue' in a clever twist on the rhyming rhythm of the play. The entire cast is strong and to be praised as they tackle this demanding play with such confidence and physical energy that it is a sheer joy to watch.
111theatre's production is glorious - a visually evocative set, period costumes and an unpretentious staging which frees the cast to deliver the dialogue/action with a panache, accuracy and pace that leaves you simply speechless. The play opens with a 20 minute monologue delivered with only a couple of other actors on stage to play off the speech, which they do remarkably well to great comic effect. The whole 20 minutes is spellbinding - hilarious and totally over the top in a role that is an actor's wet dream and pushed to its fabulous limit in this production.
I found the plot to be the play's weaker aspect. But this is easily forgiven by letting yourself revel in the myriad of ridiculous, comical moments that simply keep on being created through clever banter, physical interplay and sheer madness, such as the maid who will only talk in monosyllabic words that rhyme with 'blue' in a clever twist on the rhyming rhythm of the play. The entire cast is strong and to be praised as they tackle this demanding play with such confidence and physical energy that it is a sheer joy to watch.