Lane Cove Theatre Company has chosen well with their current play, the classic Richard Brinsley Sheridan comedy, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL (1777).
I noticed a nice touch straight away when I picked up my tickets. With every production that they do, they make up a special, cut-price cocktail for theatre patrons to enjoy. This time the cocktail was called Scandalicious!
Human beings have always had the propensity for gossip and along with this an irresistible attraction for scandal. Sheridan sets his play the world of high society. The play is replete with zingy one lines. Think Oscar Wilde but he predates Oscar; Sheridan’s plays flourished in the 18th century, Wildes’ in the 19th century.
There are many strands to the plot with the central focus being on the journeys of brothers Joseph and Charles Surface. They are both society players, and it is hard to work out who is the more genuine. They are both pursuing a beautiful young woman, Maria, however do their motives arise out of love or as a result of Maria coming from a very rich family!
Their auntie, Lady Olivia Surface, is also on their case. She has travelled a long way to see them individually, to see how genuine their relationship with her, and the extended family is. Is there interest in her only as a result of knowing that she will be leaving a very large estate? Which of the brothers is the more genuine? Lady Surface comes up with a very clever strategy to work them. You will have to see the play to find out what this strategy is. Suffice it to say, that this strategy leads to some hilarious scenes.
Lane Cove Theatre Company’s production, as directed by Christine Firkin, is very lively and a lot of fun. The stagecraft is good. Firkin has chosen well in retaining the one compact, period set, (including a too attractive chaise lounge, for the multiple play settings, and different coloured lighting for each location, by using different background colours on the scrim for each different location. Costumes, wigs, make-up all worked well.
The cast gave committed, high energy performances. The two likely lads. Samuel Chapman as Joseph Surface and Benjamin Walsh as Charles Surface and Mr Crabtree, gave confident, flamboyant performances.
Sheridan enjoyed being playful with names. There was no chance of mistaking the personalities of characters. Ciara Briggs was appropriately sneering as Lady Sneerwell. Phillipa Coleman, who for many years worked as one of Sydney’s leading film publicists, treads the boards as the frank Mrs Candour. Michelle Bellamy showed versatility and comic prowess, playing three characters, principally, Lady Olivia Surface.
Daisy Cousins was sexy and teasing as Lady Teazle. Trent Gardiner was her appropriately circumspect husband, Sir Peter Teazle. Beate Mueller was great as the housemaid who finds herself caught up in some very difficult situations. and managed to retain a sort of poker face. Joyce Sharma was suitably snaky and treacherous as Careless, Lady Elizabeth Backbite and Snake.
This is a classic comic romp to be enjoyed. Enrol in this school for scandal. You will get to meet some very colourful characters. And it is scandalicious.
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL is playing the Pottery Lane Theatre Performance Space until the 31st August. Check the Company’s website for performance details.
