Reader Reviews
Trelawny of the 'Wells' (Charing Cross Theatre (formerly New Players Theatre), Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Old plays with large casts? Not "do-able" any more, they say, unless it's a mega-budget NT production. Not so. There are ways. And the Actors Company way - large cast, hot from (re-)training, small venue - is a good one, if close-up relish of the piece, not distanced reverence, is what you want. "The Stage", which should perhaps be nurturing the work, chooses once more to dismiss a piece with that dated old put-down, "dated". Trelawney is of its time, yes, but there is nothing anachronistic in the delights of this play. Criticise plays and films that feed on plays and films if you must, but what about Hamlet, Present Laughter and, oh, yes, Swimming with Sharks? It's actors acting actors, of course, tricky, but great when it works, and in this Trelawney it works. It's a tall order, cramming 20-odd actors on to a small stage, and this production is not without its odd clunky moment, but when that small stage is a cramped rooming house abuzz with clashing egos and it's clear just what's going on at every turn, you've got what you come to theatre for. When the cramped stage is a claustrophobic, oppressive Victorian mansion, the same applies ... and when that cramped stage doubles as, well, a cramped stage, the whole elegant conceit comes full circle. Go and see this play : it's a lovely, funny, piece, an admirable example of ensemble playing, with several stand-out performances. - Chris Bearne. | 08 Oct 07 |
