THE WEDDING. To 5 April.
London
THE WEDDING
by Virgilio Piñera translated by Kate Eaton
Scarlet Theatre at Southwark Playhouse To 5 April 2003
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm
Runs: 1hr 35 min No interval
TICKETS: 020 7620 3494
www.scarlettheatre.co.uk
Review: Mark Courtice 12 March at Theatre Royal, Winchester.
Curious play from 1958 is more than an historical curiosity.
Piñera is not a familiar name to British theatregoers, but on this showing, he ought to be. This is clever, funny, moving and sophisticated, and in the safe hands of Scarlet Theatre, very well done.
Flora overhears Alberto reveal her “hidden defect” to his mate Luis just before their wedding, and of course from then on it’s all off. Now they just have to deal with the formalities.
Set at the meeting point of realism, the absurd and the completely bonkers, The Wedding handles important things with subtlety and cleverness. When you should tell the truth; the damage that we do by mistake; and the way that explanations often do more to damage than repair - all are dealt with in inexorable logic, presented through the illogical prism of a world where no-one leaves well alone. It is also moving, as two people argue and posture themselves into terminal separation.
It is reassuring to find that Cuban audiences are evidently as ready as we are to laugh in a childish fashion at vulgar words. Piñera takes this to extremes, using one (which must remain unsaid here as it concerns that secret) so much we go from laughing to not, and then to laughing again at the sheer front of it all.
Scarlet perform this with energy and style, using excellently conceived movement, skilfully done, underscoring the words, defining and creating strange new formalities. The music by Nigel Piper is Cuban striated with strange motor noises, and works really well, often provoking dances and little routines. In a play where words (a good translation by Kate Eaton) are so important the company tackle them with relish and skill, especially Christine Entwisle as Flora and Scarlet regular Colin Michael Carmichael as Luis, whose vocal range is as flexible as his physicality.
The Wedding was written in 1958, and feels like it is part of the Ionesco and (in this country) Henry Livings generation; but in this production it is more than an historical curiosity. This is a genuinely entertaining night out - well worth Scarlet’s 21st Century time and attention.
Flora: Chrsitine Entwisle
Alberto: Darren Strange
Luis: Colin Michael Carmichael
Julia: Brigid Zengeni
Written by: Virgilio Piñera
Translated by: Kate Eaton
Music Composed by: Nigel Piper
Directed by: Emma Bernard
Designed by: Emma Bernard and Simon Plumridge
Costume Design: Cordelia Chisholm
Lighting Design: Mark Dymock
2003-03-18 02:55:24