Saturday, July 04, 2009

The Rover by Aphra Behn, Sothwark Playhouse, 2-Jul-2009 – directed by Naomi Jones

I can't claim that Aphra Behn was a great playwright (I would go so far as good) although she appears to have been the equal, in writing, of many of her contemporaries. It is problematic that these contemporaries were are Restoration playwrights whose work (with a few exceptions) is under-performed and often seen as second rate. Behn has another handicap because as practically the first woman to earn her living by the pen, it often seems that her work is supposed to support some vast Feminist edifice and every word of hers is to be solemnly uttered as if it were a votive flower let fall on to the author's grave.
Flowery writing aside, basically she's good but I think her Restoration and Feminist burdens cause people to shy away and unjustly neglect her.
Fortunately it isn't the case in this production: It appears that the cast wanted to treat it with much of the fun and spirit with which it was written. I was reminded of why I have always thought of this as one of my favourite plays (ever since I first saw it 30 years ago).
This not a perfect play of course the plot can feel like trying to concentrate on a single ball in the hands of a juggler using 6 identical balls, some characters feel under-used or underdeveloped (particularly the Viceroy's son Don Antonio and Valeria the cousin of the sisters Florinda and Helena) and there are a couple of near rapes that are too easily forgiven (perhaps just for modern tastes).
Both halves of the play started in the theatre's bar area before we were sent into a nearby street (the main theatre where we could all sit). This worked quite well although, as with any promenade production it was sometimes difficult to see the actors through the other audience members, Also there was a little awkwardness when the actors had to manhandle the audience to clear space for an apparently rushed and impetuous duel. Also getting the audience into their seats did seem to delay the action a bit, although they did occur during at fairly logical places in the piece.
The light touch and sense of enjoyment in this production made me hope that others will be prepared investigate Ms Behn, it does seem to be rewarding.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

CLOUD NINE by Caryl Churchill at The Union Theatre

Press Night Thursday 3rd Sept at 7.30pm

To reserve your ticket please reply to this email or call me on 07761005393

A selection of press images available can be seen at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=132397&id=631289133&l=040810e322

Please contact me if you would like any images emailed over

Cloud Nine is about relationships – between women and men, men and men, women and women. Caryl Churchill describes her play as being about “sex, work, mothers, Africa, power, children, grandmothers, politics, money, Queen Victoria and sex.”
Cloud Nine was first staged by the Joint Stock Theatre Group in 1979. This September, celebrating the plays 30th birthday, Fandango Theatre Company brings Caryl Churchill's classic play of Victorian sensibilities, 1970’s free-love, & tangled genders to the award winning Union Theatre.
Cloud Nine was first performed in 1979, the year that Stonewall celebrated ten years of change, the year that Heaven first opened it’s doors to London’s growing gay community, the year of 'Gay Life', the first ever gay TV series, and the year that Gays the Word bookshop opened it’s doors. But was London ready for a play which openly showed both gay and lesbian relationships, and parodied the stiff collared relationships of it’s parents? Yes it was, Cloud Nine went on to become a huge hit both here in the UK and internationally.
Can the intricacies of gender really be summed up in such terms as ‘Straight’ & ‘Gay’, or even ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’. “Cloud Nine” wittily embraces and celebrates ‘Gender-Bending’ and was written long before that term was even invented.
Tuesday 1st September - Saturday 26th September
Tuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm
No performance Sunday or Monday
Tickets are £13, Concessions (£11) available.
Credit Crunch Tuesdays – all tickets £10
Tickets are available now on BOX OFFICE 0207 261 9876
PRESS NIGHT – THURSDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER
Press info & tickets from Jamie Honeybourne fandangotheatre@googlemail.com
Tel: 07761005393 or 02086921220
Publicity Stills & Images available on request
Cloud Nine is produced by Fandango Theatre Company and directed by Jamie Honeybourne
www.fandangotheatre.co.uk
Thanks so much

Product Cloud