★★★★

“beguiling pictures of money, marriage and manipulation, brought to life by inspirational director Phillip James Rouse and a talented cast”

The Finborough Theatre celebrates its home’s 150th anniversary in stylish and exhilarating fashion. In a slick lark of an evening we rediscover three comediettas by J.P. Wooler who humorously observes the hypocritical values of affluent Victorian society. Reputed for his inebriated opinions, his hidden treasures are beguiling pictures of money, marriage and manipulation, brought to life by inspirational director Phillip James Rouse and a talented cast. Keeping the work in its original period with fitting music (Julian Starr) and costumes (Martelle Hunt), Rouse gives it a contemporary feel in pace and movement. In the intimate space of this theatre we fully appreciate the amusing facial expressions and capering activity and, with a garden bench as the only prop to set the scene, the small stage and side doors create fast-moving and arresting action.

The six actors work perfectly as an ensemble as well as each bringing their own particular style to the roles. In ‘A Winning Hazard’, Dudley Croker and Jack Crawley, on learning that they will be disinherited if they fail to marry, desperately attempt to win the hands of Coralie and Aurora Blythe. The two suitors, played by Max Marcq and Edward Mitchell, and their sweethearts (Josephine Starte and Evelyn Lockley) form beautifully balanced and contrasting pairs as the story takes on improbable proportions. ‘Allow Me to Apologise’ is a farcical story of cross-dressing intrigue. With an amusingly fanciful plot, Jasmine Blackborrow is a comedically versatile Fanny Fairlove who, recently returned to Bath, disguises herself as Goliath Goth and rekindles a previous courtship with Hariette Seymour. The situation complicates with the appearance of the real Goth, in a wonderfully funny interpretation by Edward Mitchell, and Captain Seymour who steals Fanny’s heart. The play ends with a touching apology by Fanny to Hariette, giving the narrative a modern undercurrent.

To round up the trilogy, ‘Orange Blossoms’ sees Max Marcq in an explosive tour de force as Septimus Symmetry, renowned woman-hater, who is on the verge of losing his inheritance for not marrying before he is thirty five. When a group of friends arrives at his house, he finds himself in the middle of dangerous past liaisons and unfulfilled love within the couples, and is also surprisingly attracted to Loo who has come with them. He decides to stir up trouble between his guests to illustrate the fatuity of marriage. Robert Benfield is Colonel Clarence in a discerning portrayal of the older husband and his young wife, Isabella Clarence, is another of Josephine Starte’s distinctive characters.

Wooler puts across his irreverent views through amplified characters, absurd situations and witty dialogue. The writing does have its structural flaws – loose ends in the storyline, contrived endings and some less complete personalities – but this is artistically shaped and embellished by Rouse and his troupe. We can sit back and enjoy a frolicsome and uplifting insight into the lives and minds of the Victorian idle rich.

Reviewed by Joanna Hetherington

Photography by Scott Rylander

Square Rounds

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 6th September 2018

★★★

“this play about war and the devastating impact of chemical warfare and weapons of mass destruction has never been more timely”

This year British theatre has been marking the centenary of the ending of World War One by staging a number of new and revisited productions that pay homage to those involved in the terrible events between 1914 and 1918. One such play, based on true events, is the final production in the Finborough Theatre’s THEGREATWAR100 series. Square Rounds written by Tony Harrison and last performed almost thirty years ago at the National Theatre, is an epic exploration of the devastating effects of technology in the build up to the Great War. The play runs concurrently with the celebration of the venue’s 150th birthday.

The all women play opens with a three screen projection, on an otherwise black and white set, stating ‘I will give my life for peace’ and oddly, against an overall theme of death and destruction, it is this positive statement that runs through the content of the evening.

We are initially taken back to England 1915. With many men away fighting at the Front, six women in a munitions factory decide to play some of the inventors of the then modern technology warfare. We are introduced to Sweeper Mawes and the Munitionettes who in turn represent six very influential people who had both a positive and negative influence during that era.

Amongst those whose story we learn more of is American inventor Hudson Maxim (Amy Marchant) who is concerned for his country and the frightening technological advances employed by America’s new European enemies. But he is also jealous of his brother Sir Hiram Maxim (Letty Thomas) who invented the horrifically destructive Maxim machine gun.

Fritz Haber (Philippa Quinn) was a German Jewish chemist whose invention is still the basis used for producing nitrogen fertilisers of which approximately half of the world’s food is produced using. Sadly he is also considered the ‘father of chemical warfare’ for his pioneering work producing poisonous gases during WW1. We see an interesting interaction between him and his chemist wife Clara Immerwahr (Gracy Goldman) unhappy with her husband’s venture into developing a deadly gas.

Designer Daisy Blower has created a basic, though effective set, that is complimented by thoughtful sound design (Dinah Mullen) and sympathetic lighting (Arnim Friess). Direction from Jimmy Walters keeps the action moving well though on some occasions the rhyming verse was a little too fast to take in the necessary information.

With a mix of tragedy and parody covering themes of race and ethics, this play about war and the devastating impact of chemical warfare and weapons of mass destruction has never been more timely. Sadly some one hundred years later we still hear and see horrific stories of the gassing of innocent people.

Whilst I found the first half slightly difficult to follow because of the detailed historic and chemical references, the second half became much clearer and more enjoyable to watch. An interesting show and for those with a keen interest in World War One history, this is likely to be unmissable.

Tag Archives: Finborough Theatre

A Winning Hazard – 4 Stars

A Winning Hazard

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 10th September 2018

★★★★

“beguiling pictures of money, marriage and manipulation, brought to life by inspirational director Phillip James Rouse and a talented cast”

Reviewed by Joanna Hetherington

Photography by Scott Rylander

A Winning Hazard

Finborough Theatre until 25th September

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Square Rounds – 3 Stars

Square Rounds

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 6th September 2018

★★★

“this play about war and the devastating impact of chemical warfare and weapons of mass destruction has never been more timely”

The all women play opens with a three screen projection, on an otherwise black and white set, stating ‘I will give my life for peace’ and oddly, against an overall theme of death and destruction, it is this positive statement that runs through the content of the evening.

Whilst I found the first half slightly difficult to follow because of the detailed historic and chemical references, the second half became much clearer and more enjoyable to watch. An interesting show and for those with a keen interest in World War One history, this is likely to be unmissable.

Reviewed by Steve Sparrow

Photography by S R Taylor

SQUARE ROUNDS

Finborough Theatre until 29th September

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Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com