THE RECRUITING OFFICER. To 5 April.
Keswick.
THE RECRUITING OFFICER
by George Farquhar.
Theatre By The Lake In rep to 5 April 2008.
Runs 3hr One interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 2 April.
Bright, accomplished revival of an early 18-the century perennial..
It took me its their final week to see this ambitious spring double from Keswick’s Theatre By The Lake. Alongside Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good, Keswick director Ian Forrest has revived George Farquhar’s 1706 comedy which is the play-within-a-play of Wertenbaker’s drama.
Set in Shrewsbury, which Farquhar visited on his own army-recruiting watch, Recruiting Officer raises laughter around a search for the truth about love, with hidden agendas and stratagems designed to test others’ motives. Surrounding the central middle-class characters in Shrewsbury are yokels at whom the original Drury Lane audiences probably hooted in patronising laughter. Yet Farquhar, and certainly Forrest’s cast, gives each an individual dignity within their limited understandings.
The play presents challenges; making each central character’s motivation clear for one. Then, just as a neat modern comedy might be working towards its resolution (probably having one couple less to bring together) Farquhar goes off into an orgy of fake fortune-telling and further devices to bring about a resolution.
It’s the soldiers and the women who are the focuses of interest. Maeve Larkin’s a likeable Melinda, Anna Stranack gives a finely comic portrayal of the less sophisticated Rose, whose frankly-expressed desires are frustrated when she finds she’s become caught up with the consequences of a bit of plot-inspired cross-dressing. But it’s Polly Lister’s fine Sylvia who, as herself and in temporary male guise, most gives the show energy and heart.
Among the soldiery, Kieran Buckeridge suggests Plume’s free manner and generosity, while Simeon Truby as his sergeant sidekick has the right common-sense practicality when it comes to carrying out orders. Truby’s apt comic manner retains a sense of the sergeant beneath the fortune-telling disguise adopted to promote falsehood, as Sylvia’s male incarnation is undertaken to examine the truth.
David Tarkenter is a busy Brazen, rival to Plume, lacking all sense of self-awareness. However, even this excellent actor can’t avoid the tendency to undifferentiated roaring at high volume.
Martin Johns’ platform-set brings the action close to the audience, while decorative two-dimensional scenic emblems stylishly announce the various locations in front of a silhouetted Shrewsbury in this lively revival.
Lucy: Valerie Antwi.
Captain Plume: Kieran Buckeridge.
Mr Worthy/Bridewell: Dennis Herdman.
Melinda/Thomas Appletree: Maeve Larkin.
Silvia: Polly Lister.
Justice Balance/Pluck: Peter Rylands.
Rose: Anna Stranack.
Captain Brazen/Bullock: David Tarkenter.
Kite: Simeon Truby.
Justice Scruple/Costar Pearmain/Servant: Declan Wilson.
Director: Ian Forrest.
Designer: Martin Johns.
Lighting: Nick Richings.
Sound: Matt Hall.
Movement/Etiquette: Lorelei Lynn.
Dialect coach: Charmian Hoare.
Fight director: Kate Waters.
2008-04-09 09:21:34