 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Reviews
|
||||
|
|
The RivalsBy Richard Brinsley Sheridan Two comedies of manners in two nights: one (Full Circle), written in 1952, makes an impact only because of its production values, whereas the other (The Rivals), written in 1775 and having similarly high production values, still has an impact in its own right. It's partly the language, of course. Sheridan was writing at a time when the English language still had the freshness, complexity and, indeed, excitement of Shakespeare's time, when characters could be delineated by their use of language (compare, for example, Lydia Languish with Bob Acres), and when the drive towards simplification had not impoverished everyday speech. Sheridan's language, of course, lacks the depth and density of Shakespeare's (or Marlowe's, or Ben Jonson's), but it still has a subtlety and wit which makes it a pleasure to listen to today. But it's more than that. The subject matter remains relevant today, unlike that of Full Circle, which seems so incredibly dated just fifty years on. Teenage girls still get silly romantic notions, just like Lydia Languish - different ones, of course, but still silly and still romantic - and they can still be equally stubborn and rebellious. There are still those like Falkland who are pessimistic to the core, questioning their own good fortune at every turn and killing their own chances of happiness in the process. And the ignorantly pretentious, like Mrs Malaprop, are still with us, as are those, like Sir Antony Absolute, who seek to bully their way through life, determined to get their own way. Effective and lasting comedy of manners is based on people rather than the ephemeral mores of a particular time. That's why The Rivals has lasted so long - and will continue to do so, unless people change considerably.
Compass' production is excellent. On the first night in Durham, Danny Nutt, who plays Fag, was ill and the part was taken by Patrick Bridgman who stepped in almost at the last minute - they were rehearsing with him until about two hours before the show went up - and who had to bring the book on with him. It says much for his performance (and the willingness of the audience to suspend disbelief) that we soon forgot about it. The company has a reputation for high quality mid-scale touring versions of classics and they did not disappoint. Liam Doona's set is effective: clever - yet simple and very functional - design, and, in the duel scene, even witty. The performances are of a uniformly high standard: it is difficult to single out any individual as it is very much an ensemble piece of playing. If I have a criticism, it is that it was rather too long. Unlike Sheridan's audience, modern theatregoers are not used to plays which last (including interval) three and a quarter hours. 10.45 is late when there are last buses to catch and there are places where cuts are possible and even desirable , although to the credit of the company, there were no longueurs in last night's performance. "The Rivals" ends its tour at the Lyceum, Sheffield, from 25th to 29th May. This production has also been reviewed by Jill Sharp at Ipswich and by Kevin Catchpole at at Winchester.
|
|||
|
|
