"If I reprehend any thing in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" Mrs Malaprop
Restoration Comedy is not the most accessible type of theatre for modern audiences. Yet given a good cast with crisp, clear diction one can make this most arch and stilted format into a crowd-pleaser. So it was last night, as the marvellous Miss Penelope Keith and Mr Peter Bowles tackled Sheridan's The Rivals - superb casting indeed!
The play itself is typical of its era - entangled relationships, mistaken identities, buffoonery, hilarity, farce, manners, manners, and more manners - and with a combination of excellent players, minimal (not distracting) set, and direction from Sir Peter Hall it was beautifully done.
As one reviewer put it:
"How do you play a character who has given her name to a word in the Oxford dictionary? Sincerely rather than as a caricature is what Penelope Keith gave us in her elegantly intelligent and sharply drawn portrayal of Mrs. Malaprop. It was a glowing performance, very well supported by Peter Bowles as an irascibly charming Sir Anthony Absolute, with Tam Williams smugly confident as his son Jack."Indeed, every time Miss Keith was on stage, the atmosphere was immeasurably lifted.
We had a wonderful evening, and all this for free - with preview tickets from our friend Russ! If you'd like a classy, engaging and often hilarious evening's entertainment, I can heartily recommend this one.
No videos of the Theatre Royal performance (inevitably), but here's Simon Callow giving his take on acting in Restoration Comedy:
Theatre Royal Haymarket
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