by Mick Brian
images from Lauren Arena-McCann
The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, his absurdist comedy based around Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. Equally absurd is his country house murder mystery “The Real Inspector Hound” which has no *cough* resemblance to Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”. A lesser known work of Stoppard’s, though no less absurd, is “Travesties” which has more than large hints and homages to Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” that is set in Zurich in 1917 and features such prominent people of the day as Lenin, James Joyce and Tristan Tzara.
“Travesties” is to be performed by Bath Drama at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath next week from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th at 7.30pm.
Henry Carr, a somewhat confused and muddled old man, relates his experiences as a British Consular official in Zurich 1917, kept abreast of current affairs by his butler Bennet, who it is clear has an interesting past of his own. Carr’s topsy-turvy memoirs interweave a social group consisting of the author of Ulysses, the founder of the Bolsheviks and the co-founder of the Dada movement set again the background of World War One and the Russian revolution. Amongst the turmoil we meet two young women keen on love in a confusing triangle of obfuscated names.
Jim McCauley directs this masterpiece in daftness, being a lifelong admirer of this play, more than ably abetted by Lauren Arena-McCann and the two of them have created a truly Stoppardian maelstrom – you’ll need to stay awake and concentrate to keep up as the characters deal with mislaid writings, revolutionary plans, mismatched trousers, library etiquette, court cases, Charleston dances and limericks.
Henry Carr is played by Andrew Chapman, wonderfully portraying a confused old man and a younger, somewhat bemused Consul with a wonderful delivery and brilliant comic timing; his acting is of course thoroughly ernest (no, not Ernest – the other one). Carr’s love interest, Cecily Carruthers is played by Amy Smith, all strict demureness until her passions are roused by a decadent nihilist. Amy totally nails Cecily’s prim but not-so-proper presentation and is another whose comic timing is sublime.
His Butler, Bennet, played by Ian Diddams is a gentleman’s not-so-gentle man who it seems has far more going on than his – mostly – calm exterior may indicate… Ian encapsulates Bennet’s complex history and presence excellently, and – three witches like – is seemingly omnipresent.
Cecily’s partner in crime as young women forging new socio-political paths is Sophie Turner as the Wilde-ly in love Gwendolen, but her pièce de résistance is as the straight woman to the most complex scenes which she effectively leads.
Gwendolen’s love interest, Tristan Tzara is portrayed by Jem Andrews, nonchalance and devil-may-care superbly louchely played, with and without monocle. Jem’s comic timing – again! – is superb and his interactions with Carr encapsulate multiple moods and attitudes easily.
Now, we mustn’t forget here James Joyce,
A man with an Irish voice,
Played here by Felix Byrne
Who gives us a great turn
As an actor in which we rejoice.
Which leaves us with Mr and Mrs Ulyanov. Also known as Lenin. Sam Fynn as ever pours his heart and soul into his portrayal, as shown by his dedication to learn the correct pronunciation of the Russian he speaks in his role. I’d put a quid on him. Imogens Notshaw portrays Lenin’s wife as narrator of their lives and dedicated partner… she too studied the Russian she speaks and whilst the “straightest” of characters in the play has a powerful presence throughout.
Tech as ever is provided by Alex Latham, with Connor Palmer as Stage Manager and Penny Clegg as his ever able assistant, with the ever brilliant Rich Canning as set design, costumes by Scarlett Hayler-King and Bath Theatrical with wardrobe support from Chloe Harris.
So come on along to the Rondo theatre to learn far more than you imagined about 1917 in Switzerland and Russia … or then again… not.
Tickets from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rondotheatre/travesties/e-pvmvgv
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