The School for Scandal at Royal & Derngate Northampton Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Janine Rumble
Last night, I attended the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton to watch The School for Scandal. Having never heard of this theatre show before, I was intrigued as to what it would be about. The write up for it said ‘A hilarious comedy of mischief and manners’. The play was written by Richard B. Sheridan and first performed to audiences in 1777. It was a good job I had read about this in my programme beforehand, otherwise I would have found it very strange, as this current production by Tilted Wig and Malvern Theatres in association with Theatre by Lake stands true, script wise, to the original with all the language and references of the time. It takes a bit of deciphering to work out what they are saying at times, but the story is as current today as it was a few hundred years ago.
The story revolves around a group of well to do people who all live within gossiping distance of each other. It is a satire that, if rewritten in today’s ‘speak’ it would still resonate. The main premise is the gossiping that goes on between all the characters, some of it false and some of it true, it shows how gossip spreads and the implications of this amongst the people gathered in a witty yet thought provoking way.
This small cast of eight, performed amazingly, the language of the time is very wordy and to have committed all of those lines to memory and perform them night after night is some feat. Some actors took on the roles of two different characters but were believable in both roles. The main character, Sir Peter Teazle, played by Joseph Marcell, of Fresh Prince of Bel Air fame, has been a bachelor for many, many years, before taking on a young wife, much to the hilarity of the people around him, who only after being married for six short months, believe and gossip that she is having an affair with a man much nearer her own age. The play shows how gossip spreads and becomes misinterpreted as it spreads and the repercussions of this, with the wife thinking that if her husband believes she is having an affair, then she might as well have one.
The other story interlinked is the nephews of Teazle’s old friend Sir Oliver and who is going to marry Teazle’s young ward Maria. They are tested to see the strength of their character and much hilarity ensues.
The set is a very simple one, with drapes surrounding the stage to represent the rooms the play takes place in. In the background are three small, differently coloured columns with a differently coloured old fashioned telephone on the top. The furniture on the stage is used to represent the different rooms the play is set, with different seating for each room and this is it. It is all very simple and uncomplicated.
The costumes are of the 1920’s/1930’s era and again, are very simple.
The School for Scandal is not a play that I would ordinarily choose to go and see, but I am glad I did. The cast were amazing, if a little loud at times, it made me jump once or twice. I did laugh a few times and found the language they used fascinating, although the dance at the end was a bit confusing, but the cast looked like they were having fun.
If a play written a few hundred years ago, but given a modern twist is your thing, then I would recommend going to see it. As it is not wholly my cup of tea, I give this 3/5 stars.
The play is on at Royal and Derngate, Northampton till Saturday 25th May and prices start from £22.00 and can be purchased from https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/the-school-for-scandal/
Rating: 3/5