"London Classic Theatre
is a consistently impressive touring company, usually producing
sharp productions of modern classics. Here, however, they’ve
gone back to 1723 with a sumptuous production of a Marivaux
comedy of manners.
The first thing that hits
the eye is Geraldine Bunzl’s elegant set, artfully designed to fool
the eye into seeing it as more solid than it is. The costumes, too,
are ravishing. As for the plot, well it’s a sort of fairy tale, a
prince disguised as a soldier falling for a peasant girl, combined
with commedia dell’arte (one of the characters is even called
Harlequin). It’s full of talk, of schemes, of attitudes and of love.
It must be played in a mannered style and it could fall very flat
indeed. Happily there’s no chance of that with Michael Cabot’s
excellent direction of his fine cast.
Abby Leamon and Kevin Drury
are robustly ‘oop North as feisty Sylvia and down to earth
Harlequin. Tracey-Anne Liles is superbly aristocratic as the
scheming Flaminia while Benjamin Warren radiates charm as the
Prince. Jonathan Ashley is the wonderfully put-upon servant Trivelin,
even being on the receiving end of a genuine slapstick - and a fine
noise it makes too. It’s a shame that coquettish Lisette fades away
just when we’re eager to see more of Georgina Landau’s flirty
airhead.
It took me a little while to
adjust to its artificiality, but once adjusted, the understanding
direction, clear speaking, expert comic playing and perfectly judged
design make an 18th Century French play seem fresh and newly-minted
in this elegantly enjoyable production."
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PAT ASHWORTH
- THE STAGE: |
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"This early 18th century
French comedy...has echoes of Cinderella in that a Prince is obliged
by law to marry one of his subjects and so disguises himself as a
cavalry officer in order to woo the peasant girl of his choice.
Silvia is a northern lass with attitude, in love with Harlequin, a
northern lad with attitude but they both end up destined to live
happily everafter with the wily, bewigged aristocrats who have lured
them away.
The fun is in the excellent
contemporary translation, relished especially by Kevin Drury as
Harlequin in bubble-pricking comments like, “What a load of
twaddle!” Sometimes he sounds just like Eric Morecambe. Abby Leamon
ably rises to the challenge of the argumentative Silvia but the day
is carried by Jonathan Ashley as Trivelin, a butler so comically
servile that his knees are permanently bent. His anguished facial
expressions are a delight.
The concentrated nature of
the dialogue is reinforced by Geraldine Bunzl’s majestic set, a
period drawing-room with blacked-out views that prevent any
distraction. The curtains are tattered and dry leaves have blown in
through the partial windows, hinting at decay."
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ARTHUR
DUNCAN - SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE: |
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"This rare opportunity
to enjoy a play from the finest epoch of pre-revolutionary
French culture, rewarded its audience with some highly unlikely
but amusing intrigue between aristocratic and peasant
characters, disarming tributes to Descartes' logical philosophy,
and a happy conclusion; i.e. A feast of fun, truly enjoyable,
and an intelligent change from the usual stuff on telly.
Michael Cabot has cleverly
allowed his actors to abandon most of the 'theatrical' speaking
style usually associated with the period, thereby probably helping
today's telly-attuned ears to follow the play's fast-paced arguments
more readily. Few opportunities are missed to deliver laughs and
sense, with skilful changes of tone, timing and technique. Diction,
body language and plot-laying are crystal clear, thus ensuring
satisfaction for theatre-goers seeking joyous entertainment. All
six actors deserve commendation.
With The Double Inconstancy,
London Classic Theatre is making a hugely valuable contribution to
provincial culture, throughout Britain and the Irish Republic. Many
more people would surely be enriched by these high quality
performances if only they'd break routine and fill the auditoria."
