Presented by University of Adelaide Theatre Guild
Reviewed 4 Oct 2017
Although I am sure that when it was written with Maggie Smith in mind, this play came across really funny, and there are some good lines in it, but there are also some dead spots. At times the action seems a little stilted and loses its pace.
Tracey Walker is Lettice Douffet, the over-the-top guide at Fustian House, providing embellished narratives to the bored tourists who visit. Her nemisis arrives as Charlotte (Lotte) Schoen played by Sharon Malujlo, who the opposite of Lettice, plain, boring, tightly controlled and working for the Preservation Trust that runs the tours. It is the interaction between these two characters that forms the basis for the play.
Both Walker and Malujlo do well in their respective roles, but at times there seems no spark. I found some bits of the production very funny and the minor characters were well played, especially Anita Canala as Miss Farmer, Lotte’s secretary and Anthony Vawser who was a very surly man.
The minimalist set made set changes easy, and made use of the features of the Little Theatre, but I felt the director was caught with such a wordy play and few options for movement.
Although the play does touch on a few more serious issues the intention is to make us laugh and in this, for me, it only partially succeeded. Most of the first night audience seemed to enjoy it, so maybe I’m alone in this.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Venue: Little Theatre, Adelaide University
Season: 4-14 Oct 2017
Duration: 2hr
Tickets: $28 Conc $23
Booking: www.trybooking.com/RQHB
More News
