FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS. Exeter to 23 February.

Exeter

FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS
by Terence Rattigan

Northcott Theatre To 23 February 2002

Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS 01392 493493
Review Hazel Brown 11 February

A delicious confection of comic moments.Take five quintessential English men, add an English Vamp, a simple French girl and a pedantic French professor. Bake them in the Riviera sun and, with the sure comedic touch of director Richard Baron and Terence Rattigan's insight into character, just sit back and take delight in a delicious confection of comic moments.

Suzy Bloom, as the vamp Diana Lake, uses every ounce of her charm to make all the men fall for her - from Kit, a dashing, but dim young man, to Commander Rogers, an upright naval type, and even Brian, a bluff business man (played by Andrew Greenough, whose appearance and comic delivery reminded me of Ronnie Barker). Finally, there is Alan, destined for a career as a diplomat, but really a pacifist and an aspiring writer, who denigrates her charms the most, but in the end, falls the hardest.

The men, including Diana's brother, Kenneth, have come to the South of France to learn French from Monsieur Maingot, played with charming Gallic pedantry by Gareth Thomas. Jacqueline Maingot, the professor's daughter has the measure of Diana, but struggles against greater sexual odds to prise Kit away from Diana's superior charms. The comedy bubbles along as the men struggle with the French language and boils over as they square up to one another to win Diana's affection.

There are wonderful fights, comic choreography with croissants and telephones, scenes of hilarious drunkenness and dancing that just avoid descending into slapstick, plus a strong undercurrent of homo-erotic affection. The elaborate, over the top, set of the Villa Miramar, serves its purpose well, with the housekeeper with attitude, Marianne, tidying it to mark the scene changes. The 30's costumes, such as Diana's magnificent bikini and matching full-length coat, are spot on. No tears here, just huge grins on the faces of the audience.

Kenneth Lake: Jean-Marc Perret
Brian: Andrew Greenhough
Hon. Alan Howard: Hugh Lee
Marianne: Clare Philbrook
Monsieur Maingot: Gareth Thomas
Diana Lake: Suzy Bloom
Kit Neilan: Tam Williams
Jacqueline Maingot: Eleanor Moriarty

Director: Richard Baron
Designer: Edward Lipscomb
Lightin: March Pritchard
Fight Co-ordinators: Rachel Steggall and Jean-Marc Perret

2002-02-14 01:29:59