Presented by University of Adelaide Theatre Guild
Reviewed 12 August2021
Yet another production that almost didn’t make it thanks to the dreaded Covid! Thanks to determination, hard work and I suspect stubbornness, it got there. It was worth waiting for: although it opened late, quality did not suffer. Under the capable hand of Megan Dansie, with her assistant AJ Bartley, the magic of Noel Coward came to life last night. Coward writes amusing plays with witty dialogue that require a strong cast, and Dansie has assembled a good one.
Brad Martin steps into Coward’s era with ease handling the lines with just the right tone. He plays Charles Condomine and the play places him between two wives (one living one ‘passed over’) and his chemistry with both is great. The live wife, Ruth, Miriam Keane, is a definite match for Charles and Keane gives as good as she gets. The spirit wife, Elvira, who was a handful when alive is portrayed by Emily Currie with the languid charm of a Coward leading lady complete with the mercurial temperament. All three actors get all there is out of the comedy in the script and become beautifully frustrated with each other.
The Condomine’s maid Edith, with her clumsy, eager to please naivety is Ashlee Scott, convincingly gauche. The Bradman’s, visitors there for a dinner party and what promises to be interesting entertainment are played by Steve Marvanek and Esther Michelsen looking like they just stepped out of the 40s. The minor characters in Coward plays need to be played well for the whole thing to work – they were.
The crucial role is played splendidly by Jean Walker, every inch a Madame Arcarti from her flowing clothes on her first entrance to her tweeds and her no-nonsense attitude. Walker managed the many tricky trances and ‘other worldliness’ with ease, totally believable (well as believable as the character allows). Dansie gave the cast an open set with room to move, looking authentic for the era and decked out with all the expected bits and pieces. The set and costumes were well done but maybe Ruth’s hems were a bit high for the era. Lighting and sound by Ellen Demaagd and Tony Stankiewicz helped the atmosphere.
The most disappointing thing was the audience. After having to cancel their original opening night and rearrange bookings this excellent production played to an audience of less than 20. If we wish companies to go to astonishing lengths to provide Adelaide with quality theatre, we need to support them. Covid has made life hard but we must support what is there.
Go see this funny, entertaining show!
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Venue: Little Theatre, Adelaide University
Season: 11-21 August 2021
Duration: 2.5hrs
Tickets: $20 – $25
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=574983&
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