THE RIVALS: British Actors, Touring
THE RIVALS: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
British Actors Theatre
Touring
Runs: 2h 30 m, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 11 September 2002, Alexandra Birmingham
Eighteenth Century cool's the thing in this clear production that keeps both Sheridan's comedy and structure in focus.
One of the most interesting things about Sheridan's enduring comedy is just how nasty all the men are (among the gentry that is the working servants are something else.) Taking his cue from fashionable Irishman O'Trigger, director Knight Mantell encourages his males to be cool at all times, to keep their passions in check. The males' calculating natures acquire a casualness which is chilling while the masks they hide behind become despicable.
Nowhere could this be clearer than in Mark Healy's romantic soldier Jack Absolute: this Absolute could effortlessly charm the pants off you. It comes as quite a shock when he casually mentions that one of the reasons behind his ploy of pretending to be a nobody is to ensure he marries into money. Mind you, Lydia Languish (they are mutual objects of desire) isn't much better, living as she does in a make believe world she creates from the trashy romantic novels she reads non-stop. Miranda Floy's Lydia is tough enough, but Floy intelligently avoids the temptation of making Lydia a modern woman she isn't, she's part of Sheridan's satire.
Gabrielle Drake brings a lovely humanity to Mrs Malaprop she doesn't lose the comedy and her vulnerability heightens the cruelty of (in particular) Jack Absolute: it's a pity the moment she realises it's he who's written the insulting letters passes so quickly. Michael Jayston's Sir Anthony Absolute is an hilarious joy: again, always held in check, but he doesn't miss a trick.
Part of Sheridan's revealing balance within the play is achieved through the importance he gives to servants Fag and Lucy. In a way, Lucy is the lynch pin she makes a packet fleecing her 'betters' who can't see further than their upturned noses. Kate O'Mara's Lucy is warm and vital: O'Mara takes us into her confidence with great ease. Antony Howes's ebullient Fag speeds along to great effect, though I'd be happier if he didn't signal the meanings of quite so many words. And not to be missed a delightful performance from Gary Richards as nervous-wreck of a servant, David, horrified at the dangers of men behaving so badly.
Fag: Antony Howes
Coachman: Gary Richards
Lydia Languish: Miranda Floy
Lucy: Kate O'Mara
Julia Melville: Maria Miles
Mrs Malaprop: Gabrielle Drake
Sir Antony Absolute: Michael Jayston
Jack Absolute: Mark Healy
Faulkland: Stash Kirkbride
Bob Acres: Mark Noble
Sir Lucius O'Trigger: Arthur Bostrom
David: Gary Richards
Townspeople, Servants: Nicholas Osmond, Tom Ewen, Tamarin Fountain, Melody Schroeder
Director: Knight Mantell
Design (Set and Lighting): Dickon O'Mara
Sound: Steve Allan Jones
2002-09-12 10:13:47