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| Glyn Kerslake and Hattie Ladbury. Photo: Dominic Parkes |
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French Farce Gets a Makeover in Game of Love & ChanceDate: 21 March 2011
French farce gets a Sixties makeover at Salisbury Playhouse with Artistic Director Philip Wilson’s production of Marivaux’s The Game of Love and Chance, translated by Neil Bartlett.
Silvia’s father, Mr Prowde, is keen to marry her off – and had invited an eligible young bachelor to the family home for the weekend. However, Dorant, the beau in question, has decided that he’s like to take a look at his intended in disguise – and so swaps places with his manservant. Unbeknownst to him, though, Silvia has had a similar idea – and exchanges clothes with her maid. And so begins a Sixties house party where nothing - and no one - is to be taken at face value.
Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of Marivaux’s 18th century farce was first presented at the National Theatre in 1992. Philip Wilson now transports the action to an English house in the Sixties, with songs of the period punctuating the action, and performed live.
Philip Wilson’s previous productions at Salisbury include The Constant Wife, The Picture, What the Butler Saw and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Neil Bartlett’s other translations of Marivaux plays include The Dispute (RSC) and The Island of Slaves (Lyric Hammersmith). His latest play, Or You Could Kiss Me, was produced at the National Theatre in 2010.
The cast of The Game of Love and Chance includes Stephen Critchlow (The Thirty Nine Steps, West End), Hattie Ladbury (Catherine Winslow, Salisbury Playhouse), Glyn Kerslake (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables), and Tom Davey (Hamlet, RSC).
The Game of Love and Chance
Salisbury Playhouse, Thursday 31 March – Saturday 23 April 2011.
- by Simon Cole
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