Director Tom Littler is on familiar territory with this 250th anniversary adaptation of The Rivals and does an excellent job of his ‘loving restoration’.
Photo © Ellie Kurttz
Together with associate Rosie Tricks, he updates the period to 1927 and gives Sheridan’s 18th-century language a contemporary polish.
There are modern 20s references (Dirty Martini) and one TV show-themed joke in the Abbey scene brought gales of laughter (no spoilers!).
The set and costumes are colourful and work well. Costumes indicating class, status, even personality and the set is versatile and suggestive with a universal deco style frame. Action takes place on and against a 1920s street map of Bath.
Set changes are rapid, highly choreographed (Leah Harris, I assume) and entertaining, while Tom Attwood’s music weaves seamlessly throughout and even includes live songs.
The whole cast is clearly having fun with this and, as the first night progressed, confidence grew.
There are fine performances from everyone, even the multi-roling ensemble, but Patricia Hodge as Mrs Malaprop gives a perfect portrayal of this potentially pantomimic character.
Her famous malapropisms (many written just for this production: “You surely speak erotically!”, “All men are vivariums”) are delivered as a natural part of her discourse, never highlighted, exaggerated or mugged to the audience.
Kit Young and Zoe Brough do fine jobs as the lovers, but the outstanding performance was James Sheldon’s Faulty Faulkner. His nerdy anxiety, physical comedy and asides were a delight.
This is a warm, pacy and funny show. Go. You won’t regress it!
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Reviewer: Tony Burton
