THE WAY OF THE WORLD. To 19 May.

Northampton

THE WAY OF THE WORLD
by William Congreve

Royal Theatre To 19 May 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 6 May
BSL Signed 9 May
Post-show discussion 10 May 7.45pm
Runs 3hr One interval

TICKETS: 01604 624811
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 3 May

Clarity makes a fine revival.
Director Selina Cadell has been working a long time on Congreve’s play, with its fine dialogue and convoluted plot. This Northampton production is the eventual outcome and it shows that, when clearly-acted as here, the characters provide the narrative coherence next-to-impossible to convey in any summary.

Something else which emerges, is that the two lead characters, Mirabell and Millamant, are exceptional in being peripheral to the main comic plotting. Congreve introduces them, later bringing them together for a scene where joint cultural sophistication is followed by a marriage agreement that sounds even more modern in this age of written pre-nuptial contracts than it might have a generation ago.

Yet most of the time the rancid fruits of desire-dominated relationships abound among others, with their gallimaufry of naivety, vanity, and spite. No wonder Congreve begins in the public chat-room of a coffee-house then sets much of the action in old Lady Wishfort’s house. It’s here that desire makes people ridiculous, especially the old lady herself. Susan Tracy, frequently encountered in semi-undress, mammaries wobbling energetically, is splendidly ripe in voice and body at her moments of sexual desire.

Yet neither she, nor the plotting youths around her become excessively excitable, while stylishness of speech and movement never becomes self-conscious stylisation. Atlanta Duffy’s set, simple structures providing space around a central sheet announcing and illustrating each location in Hogarthian manner, is in keeping with this - as is the Royal’s intimate, 19th-century stage itself.

There are good performances throughout, while Cadell shapes events to show how Mirabell and Millamant’s few scenes reveal them rising above the throng to which they could easily belong (Mirabell is involved in the dirty-tricks going on). Both actors stamp their authority individually and as fit partners for each other, David Bark-Jones’ Mirabell with a deep, resonant vocal authority matched by an intelligent understanding and humour.

Niamh Cusack brings a matching wit, always governed by bright good sense. From the first she’s swift in move and manner, as in word and thought. Throughout, Cadell orchestrates a consistently varied, vivid set of comic characters around this charismatic pair.

Fainall: Robert Styles
Mirabell: David Bark-Jones
Witwoud: James Wallace
Petulant: Miles Jupp
Sir Wilful Witwoud: Christopher Brand
Waitwell: Daniel Coonan
Lady Wishfort: Susan Tracy
Millamant: Niamh Cusack
Mrs Marwood: Lesley Vickerage
Mrs FAinall: Poppy Miller
Foible: Maggie Service
Mincing/Peg/Betty: Lowenna Taylor
John/Mirabell’s Servant: Matthew Neighbour
Servant: Aaron Bowers

Director: Selina Cadell
Designer: Atlanta Duffy
Lighting: Tony Simpson
Composer: Eliza Thompson
Movement: Didi Hopkins
Choreographer: Isabel Mortimer
Costume: Rosalind Ebbutt
Assistant director: Christie Jennings

2007-05-08 23:16:48