THE MISANTHROPE. Tour to 20 November.

Tour

THE MISANTHROPE
by Molière translated by Tony Harrison

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds production Tour to 20 November
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

Review Hazel Brown 24 September at Northcott Theatre Exeter

This witty comic masterpiece is given a modern twist and brilliantly acted by its young cast.Using Tony Harrison's vernacular translation, first produced at the National Theatre in 1973, the young cast gives shimmering performances in Molière's satire on hypocrisy. Célemène, played with insouciant charm by Amber Edlin, is giving a housewarming party for her Parisian yuppie friends, dressed in the costumes of the 1960's. Thus the salon society of the original is replaced by a contemporary society costume' party.

Much against the grain of his nature, Alcèste, a young man who believes that truth should be spoken at all times and who eschews any concession to ordinary courtesy, has fallen head over heels in love with this heartless coquette. Jonathan Keeble embodies the difficulty of his position with glorious, explosive anger and rails against social and political hypocrisy. He desperately tries to get Célemène to mend her ways, and make him her exclusive beau.

During the party, Alcèste is asked to criticise a poem written by one of his rivals, Oronte. Despite the warnings of his friend, Philinte, he thoroughly rubbishes the doggerel, making such a powerful enemy that, by the end of the play, he has to leave Paris. In the meantime, Célemène, is undone by her so-called friend and rival for Alcèste's affection, Arsinoé, who has managed to obtain copies of letters to three different lovers that reveal her duplicitous nature. There are wonderful scenes where, encouraged by her claque of lovers, Célemène indulges in gossip and mimicry of the members of her crowd and there is a brilliant, catty showdown between Arsinoé and Célemène.

There is no easy, happy resolution, the play strips away layer after layer of social veneer until we are left with the messy and arbitrary truth. This is a brilliant production, with superb costumes, a simple effective set, enhanced by good ensemble acting from every member of the young cast: it should not be missed.

Acaste: Marc Buchner
Célemène: Amber Edlin
Basque: Diana Eskell
Oronte: Antony Gabriel
Dubois: Andy Grubb
Arsinoé: Caitriona Hinds
Alcèste: Jonathan Keeble
Eliante: Helena Lyons
Clitandre: Darren Strange
Philinte: Andrew Whipp

Director: Colin Blumenau
Designer: Kit Surrey
Lighting: Nick Beadle

2002-09-28 10:08:22