RSS

Contact us

Friday 9 January 2009

Best forgotten

The Living Unknown Soldier
Arcola

Worlds End
Trafalgar Studio

Ring Round the Moon
Playhouse

At Edinburgh, the role of Kat was played by the stunning Fiona Button. She’s now been poached by Ring Round the Moon to play a penniless beauty hired by a rich socialite, Frederic, to tempt his twin brother Hugo away from his fiancée. Or did Hugo use her to tempt Frederic? I wasn’t sure. The characters are identical twins and the script requires that they be played by the same actor. As devices go that’s audacious and a bit too clever. I was never sure which character was on stage, and because the action is set during a ball both men are identically costumed in black tie. Yet the show overcomes this clumsiness and develops into an elaborate and very enjoyable comic fairy tale which pillories the marriage market and the greed of social mountaineers. The actor with two roles calls himself JJ Feild (bloody silly name) and he’s strikingly handsome, a poetic-looking bounder with the cruel jawline of Anthony Andrews and the sleepy eyes of Rufus Sewell. Should do well. Lynda Bellingham is a delight as a common-as-muck mother determined to flog her daughter off to the highest bank balance. Her goofy, scrapey-voiced performance scarcely harmonises with the casual elegance of the piece. And perhaps that’s the point, to emphasise by contrast, or perhaps Bellingham wants to remind producers that she could easily carry a show on her own. Shirley Valentine, hint, hint. Ring Round the Moon is an old-fashioned play for old-fashioned people, a solidly made satire aimed at the ample-bottomed bourgeoisie. Flock to be mocked.

More articles from: Lloyd Evans | this section

Print this article  |  Email to a friend  |  Permalink  |   Comment

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Advertisement

Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine

Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms

Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP

All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved