AN ELIGIBLE MAN. To 8 June.
London.
AN ELIGIBLE MAN
by Rosemary Friedman.
New End Theatre 27 New End NW3 1 JD To 8 June 2008.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3.30pm.
Runs 2hr 5min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 033 2733
www.newendtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 1 June.
Like its central character, this after-the-cremation comedy needs to move on.
Some decades ago, this might have been a candidate for a decent run in a small West End Theatre. It has a subject understandable to the middle-age, middle-class audience then dominating the West End. There’s gentle comedy and a squeeze of social problem, with space for emotional sympathy.
Topher Osgood is a judge grieving over his recently dead wife Caroline. His 25-year old daughter Penge is licking round the foothills of an acting career, before her personal life takes over. Three women become rivals for Topher’s future. Down from Yorkshire, there’s serially-married, upfront suburban cordon bleu Lucille; from Topher’s own elevated world there’s widowed Lady Jo, while the basement flat’s rented by novelist Sally.
Topher’s problem is how to move on. This means acknowledging the past; his guilt towards friend and neighbour Marcus, the reality about Caroline, and the burden of the vast family house where he continues to live.
A civilised, amusing, intelligent entertainment then, one that's not too demanding. Just meant for matinees with tea-trays, or as a good way to pass the time before or after dinner.
Yet it’s hard to see a management having taken it up. Things start well, and performances in Ninon Jerome’s production are clear. Graham Seed has a practised legal smoothness, the rare outbursts over his bereavement pointing-up his sense of loss. The women who come into his life are equally pointed, in their charming manner to him and sharpness towards each other, especially in the contrast between Maggie Hallinan’s vociferous Yorkshirewoman and Sonia Saville’s silkily demanding ladyship.
But they are clearly types. Grainne Gillis’ Sally is less obviously so, being more likely to retreat than attack in the face of competition. Accordingly, the character makes less of an impact throughout. Penge Osgood captures the self-centred indolence of the affluent, sheltered young. All these have more scope than Nina Kwok’s briefly-seen Chrysanthemum, yet little more depth.
Instead the play fragments into a series of short scenes, which repeat characteristics, rather than developing characters. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been a West End contender years ago, so much as a pilot for a sitcom.
Topher Osgood: Graham Seed.
Professor Marcus Gordon: Malcolm James.
Sally Maddox: Grainne Gillis.
Penge Osgood: Patricia Potter.
Lucille Moss: Maggie Hallinan.
Lady Jo Henderson: Sonia Saville.
Chrysanthemum: Nina Kwok.
Director: Ninon Jerome.
Designer/Costume: Alex Marker.
Lighting: David W Kidd.
Assistant director: James Quaife.
2008-06-02 08:42:45