THE WICKED LADY till 25 July
THE WICKED LADY: adapted by Bryony Lavery from the novel by Magdalen King-Hall
New Vic: Newcastle-Under-Lyme
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Runs: 2h 30m, one interval, till
Review: Rod Dungate 09 July 2009
Great storytelling; great theatre.
If you think about it, these days ‘wicked’ has at least two distinct meanings. Both meanings could be used to describe the hero of this story - Lady Barbara Skelton. Lavery’s play is an adaptation of Magdalen King-Hall’s 1943 novel. Lady Barbara, living in Charles II’s England, is imprisoned by the social mores of her day and finds freedom in the danger of the life of a highwayman; but as a highwayman (sic) she frightens, terrifies and kills. Wickedly wicked you might say.
Bryony Lavery has taken the original novel and adapted it into a serious and playful work of delicious, theatrical storytelling. Theresa Heskins, who directs, captures the tone perfectly, and with her talented team creates a memorable performance that has the ability to provoke thought and thrill at the same time.
This is an ensemble piece, with performers playing a range of roles. Scene flows effortlessly into scene ensuring the pace doesn’t flag. But more than this, each moment is played to mine its true depths. We want to like Lady Barbara - we do like her, we empathise with her plight. But when she shoots and kills her tenant farmer’s son, then later offers money for his headstone we are encouraged to despise her. We are left by the production to join up these dots . . . and the answer, like life, is complex, even uncomfortable.
The acting company is strong with Rosin Gallagher in its centre as Lady Barbara - always spirited, energetic and (for most of the time) greatly likeable. A particular note must also go for the gaggle of dotty aunts - and this may be the first time you get to see synchronised embroidery.
Aerial work is used to great effect throughout; nowhere more so than in Lady B’s lovemaking with her highwayman lover, where the perceived aerial danger perfectly parallels the actual and emotional danger of the two characters.
Yasmine Akram: Paulina
Shelley Atkinson: Molly
Stephen Finegold: Hogarth
Benedict Fogarty: Kit
Rosin Gallagher: Barbara
Morgan George: Sir Ralph
Michael Hugo: Ned Cotterill
Nicola Sanderson: Henrietta
Marcello Walton: Jerry
Al Orange: Aunt
Director: Theresa Heskins
Designer: Liz Cooke
Lighting Designer: Daniella Beattie
Sound Designer: James Earls-Davis
Aerial Consultant: Vicki Amedume
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Chorus Work: John Wright
Music: Sue Moffat with James Earls-Davis, Adam Fenn and Russell Gregory
2009-07-10 15:38:10