September 15, 2010
If you like the Wildean brand of ‘witticism’ and have a free night this week, look no further than the Studio Theatre Club’s production of Oscar (Fingal O’Flahertie Wills) Wilde’s first successful stage play Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892), playing at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon. More than a century after the original production, some quotations are now so embedded in British society that audience members enjoy murmuring them along with the actors– such was the case during last night’s performance!
Subtitled; ‘a play about a good woman’, the diurnal Lady Windermere’s Fan, is a social satire about the relationships between men and women and their places in ‘society’. People are either ‘charming or tedious’ so while goodness is esteemed, gossip provides entertainment. We expect lavish sets and costumes to accompany the aesthete’s plays; STC plumped for indulgence with the latter rather than the former on the modest Unicorn stage. With a cast of 21 (yes, more than the prescribed 16), the beautifully-dressed actors provided the necessary set dressing while the furniture was suitably rearranged and adorned as necessary for the different scenes. The garlanded walkway provided an ideal terrace where, for example, the almost-silent ‘chatterbox’, Lady Agatha (Hannah Barnes), could view the sunset.
Holly Bathie’s portrayal of Lady Windermere, who self-confessedly has ‘something of the Puritan’ about her and ‘allows of no compromise’, is prim and precise but eventually evinces a gracious acknowledgement of flexibility. The thoroughly decent (is he or isn’t he?) Lord Windermere is played with sincerity by Jack Brougham and the exchanges between the Windermeres are strong. Lord Darlington (Jamie Crowther), who has some of the best quips, ‘I can resist everything except temptation’, is Lady Windermere’s other fan. Once first-night nerves are over, a more fluid line delivery will combine his smoothness and despondency with even more panache.
The gossip-mongers, commenting on the intriguing Mrs Erlynne, are delightful. Kath Leighton as the ‘men don’t matter’/’boys are so wicked’ commanding Duchess of Berwick gives an outstanding performance and is a wonderful contrast to her enchanting daughter Agatha. Matt Kirk is a treat as the bumptious Dumby as are the other party guests, including Val Shelley as Lady Plymdale and Brian Mackin (despite the meandering accent) as Cecil Graham who ‘thinks like a Tory and talks like a Radical’. Peter Hubbard appropriately ‘aussies up’ for Hopper. The mysterious Mrs Erlynne (Beth Penfold) ‘bigged up’ before her entrance, does not disappoint. With the exception of a slight quibble over mannerisms (too quick and modern), Penfold carries off the tricky, ambiguous role with aplomb. Before the dust has settled on one intrigue, the clever woman who ‘can explain everything’ successfully masterminds her future. Infatuated by Mrs Erlynne, Stephen Briggs’s amusing Lord ‘Tubby’ Augustus (the antithesis to his sister the Duchess of Berwick) is happy to be deluded and henpecked; we anticipate that he will relish in his just desserts.
A good text is a great starting point and, coupled with Deb McKenna’s direction, the STC ensemble obviously enjoyed the play – and so did I.
Subtitled; ‘a play about a good woman’, the diurnal Lady Windermere’s Fan, is a social satire about the relationships between men and women and their places in ‘society’. People are either ‘charming or tedious’ so while goodness is esteemed, gossip provides entertainment. We expect lavish sets and costumes to accompany the aesthete’s plays; STC plumped for indulgence with the latter rather than the former on the modest Unicorn stage. With a cast of 21 (yes, more than the prescribed 16), the beautifully-dressed actors provided the necessary set dressing while the furniture was suitably rearranged and adorned as necessary for the different scenes. The garlanded walkway provided an ideal terrace where, for example, the almost-silent ‘chatterbox’, Lady Agatha (Hannah Barnes), could view the sunset.
Holly Bathie’s portrayal of Lady Windermere, who self-confessedly has ‘something of the Puritan’ about her and ‘allows of no compromise’, is prim and precise but eventually evinces a gracious acknowledgement of flexibility. The thoroughly decent (is he or isn’t he?) Lord Windermere is played with sincerity by Jack Brougham and the exchanges between the Windermeres are strong. Lord Darlington (Jamie Crowther), who has some of the best quips, ‘I can resist everything except temptation’, is Lady Windermere’s other fan. Once first-night nerves are over, a more fluid line delivery will combine his smoothness and despondency with even more panache.
The gossip-mongers, commenting on the intriguing Mrs Erlynne, are delightful. Kath Leighton as the ‘men don’t matter’/’boys are so wicked’ commanding Duchess of Berwick gives an outstanding performance and is a wonderful contrast to her enchanting daughter Agatha. Matt Kirk is a treat as the bumptious Dumby as are the other party guests, including Val Shelley as Lady Plymdale and Brian Mackin (despite the meandering accent) as Cecil Graham who ‘thinks like a Tory and talks like a Radical’. Peter Hubbard appropriately ‘aussies up’ for Hopper. The mysterious Mrs Erlynne (Beth Penfold) ‘bigged up’ before her entrance, does not disappoint. With the exception of a slight quibble over mannerisms (too quick and modern), Penfold carries off the tricky, ambiguous role with aplomb. Before the dust has settled on one intrigue, the clever woman who ‘can explain everything’ successfully masterminds her future. Infatuated by Mrs Erlynne, Stephen Briggs’s amusing Lord ‘Tubby’ Augustus (the antithesis to his sister the Duchess of Berwick) is happy to be deluded and henpecked; we anticipate that he will relish in his just desserts.
A good text is a great starting point and, coupled with Deb McKenna’s direction, the STC ensemble obviously enjoyed the play – and so did I.