The Bear says:
This was a very special surprise treat that the Girl bought for us. We'd wanted to go to this, but (as is too often the case) left the booking too late and thought we'd missed it. Anyway, she somehow managed to get us two of the "point blank" seats that we like and on a Saturday matinee as well (a favourite time for a show).
This was a particularly and wonderfully eccentric production by Queensland Theatre Company. Any attempt at verisimilitude is abandoned from the outset, and the characters are portrayed as the caricatures that they are. This is a wonderful example of what can be pulled off on stage but would be much harder to get to work on film (except possibly in animation). For example, Cecily (Francesca Savige) is given a very peculiar set of physical and vocal mannerisms, almost skipping about the stage with hands set at an improbable angle by her sides. These elements of caricature carry over into the costuming and set design as well.
The production also features an interesting "take" on Gwendolen (Georgina Symes), made out to be an edgier, almost voracious character than I've ever imagined her or seen her portrayed. This is particularly so in her confrontation with Cecily over who of them is really engaged to "Earnest". Another particular joy was watching Paul Bishop's Algernon and Tim Dashwood's Jack play off each other as "funny man and straight man", again in a way that seemed new to me. It's always a delight to see something new in a familiar and much-loved text.
This was a very special surprise treat that the Girl bought for us. We'd wanted to go to this, but (as is too often the case) left the booking too late and thought we'd missed it. Anyway, she somehow managed to get us two of the "point blank" seats that we like and on a Saturday matinee as well (a favourite time for a show).
This was a particularly and wonderfully eccentric production by Queensland Theatre Company. Any attempt at verisimilitude is abandoned from the outset, and the characters are portrayed as the caricatures that they are. This is a wonderful example of what can be pulled off on stage but would be much harder to get to work on film (except possibly in animation). For example, Cecily (Francesca Savige) is given a very peculiar set of physical and vocal mannerisms, almost skipping about the stage with hands set at an improbable angle by her sides. These elements of caricature carry over into the costuming and set design as well.
The production also features an interesting "take" on Gwendolen (Georgina Symes), made out to be an edgier, almost voracious character than I've ever imagined her or seen her portrayed. This is particularly so in her confrontation with Cecily over who of them is really engaged to "Earnest". Another particular joy was watching Paul Bishop's Algernon and Tim Dashwood's Jack play off each other as "funny man and straight man", again in a way that seemed new to me. It's always a delight to see something new in a familiar and much-loved text.
The Girl says:
This was a fantastic production of a fabulous play!
I was very lucky to be able to get good seats. The Bear and I have learned through bitter experience that it is better not to see some things than to go and have poor seats, so I had pretty much given up hope when all the available seats were Row M or worse. But a week later I tried "just once more" and was lucky enough to get seats in AA. Upon arrival, it was clear that these seats had been newly installed and thus released later - yay for us!!
I can't really add much more to The Bear's comments above - a truly flawless production with excellent performances and very interesting costume and set design. Wonderful laugh out loud humour!
This is the only QTC production we've seen this year, and I am always impressed by the quality of their productions. It's just a shame that most of what they choose to put on isn't worth viewing. I'm very glad we didn't miss this one.
