The School for Scandal. To 22 April 2006.
Salisbury
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Salisbury Playhouse To 22 April 2006
Mons-Weds; 7.30pm; Thur – Sat 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
BSL Signed 19 April.
Audio-described 20 Apri 230pm & 8pm
Runs 2hr 45min One Interval
TICKETS: 01722 320333
www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review Mark Courtice: 31 March
A lesson in how to do it – at Salisbury’s “School”.
At the Playhouse the voice of Regency reason, cool, cynical but robust and moral (and wickedly funny), sounds clear as a bell.
Sheridan’s world was like ours; his characters recognisably those to beware of even now. Edward Bennett’s skilful Snake, covered in ink, but in whom you could discern both “Celebrity Publicist” and tabloid editor, sends us off into a world where rumour, the “story” and betrayal of either friend or foe, are the norm.
On Gemma Fripp’s parquet-floored open set, surrounded by a high gallery, characters process, dash and skulk - egged on by Paul McClure’s loud, urgent and clever music underscored by constant whispering. Luxurious costumes swish, but coats get shrugged off for such activities as drinking. Both the visuals and the playing receive exactly the contrast of formality and low-down dirty that makes Sheridan’s world so exciting – and appalling.
At the centre of some high quality acting from the excellent cast is Philip Franks’s Teazle. Nature may have given him the build and upbringing the solemn Welsh accent, but it is the actor who brings the tenderness, the willing suspension of self importance for the cause of hopeless love, and the clumsiness, both physical and emotional. Madeleine Worrall plays his lady as sharp, wayward and dangerous, in satisfactory contrast.
Philip Madoc seems less secure in his lines than he will be later into the run, but this merely underscores the welcome edge he gives Sir Oliver – we really aren’t sure which way he will choose to give his largesse. Simon Chadwick’s brawling, boozy Charles Surface is just right; good, not goody-goody.
Led by the crackling Frances Tomelty’s Sneerwell the baddies are splendid too. Her ferocious, energetic performance, where we know exactly what we are getting, contrasts with Carol Macready’s swooping hypocritical Mrs Candour, while David Delve and Toby Dantzic have fun with Crabtree and Backbite.
The attractive, effective design, excellently lit by Anna Watson, makee the whole thing look good. Director Richard Beecham handles pace and tone with a sure touch, creating a very funny, but beady eyed view of hypocrisy, gossip and love.
Lady Sneerwell Frances Tomelty
Snake Edward Bennett
Joseph Surface David Bark-Jones
Maria Catherine Nix-Collins
Mrs Candour Carol Macready
Crabtree David Delve
Sir Benjamin Backbite Toby Dantzic
Sir Peter Teazle Philip Franks
Rowley Alan Rothwell
Lady Teazle Madeleine Worrall
Sir Oliver Surface Philip Madoc
Moses Andrew Melville
Charles Surface Simon Chadwick
Sir Toby Bumper Damian Lynch
Director: Richard Beecham
Designer: Gemma Fripp
Lighting: Anna Watson
Composer: Paul McClure
2006-04-02 11:05:48