Adapted by Toby Hulse
from the novel by Jules Verne
Directed by Terence
O’Connell
Presented by Ellis
Productions and Aleksandar Vass
Q Theatre Queanbeyan
to 5 August
Reviewed by Len Power
2 August 2017
Jules Verne’s novel ‘Around The World In Eighty Days’ was
published in 1873. In the story, Phileas
Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to
circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager set by his friends at
the Reform Club. Believing that Fogg was
involved in a robbery prior to starting his journey, a Scotland Yard detective
follows him, ready to pounce.
In this stage adaptation by Toby Hulse, the wager has been
increased to £40,000 and a cast of three plays all of the characters. The media release states that it incorporates
elements of ‘The Thirty Nine Steps’, recently seen here again in Canberra. You know the drill – period story, lots of
characters played by a small cast at a dizzying speed, minimal props and the
humour arising from how the cast manage to get through it.
This show never really catches fire and the problem is mainly
with the adaptation by Toby Hulse. Jules
Verne’s novel takes us on a fantastic journey full of colourful adventures
along the way. This adaptation uses the
itinerary mapped out in Jules Verne’s novel but focusses mostly on the interaction
between the characters. The actors play
the scenes as if they are in old-style music hall or vaudeville and any
adventures are only described by a narrator or they’re just skipped over. Even though the show moves quickly from one
short scene to the next, it becomes tedious with the repetitious repartee
between the characters and laughs are few and far between.
The talented cast really work hard. Ian Stenlake is perfect as Phileas Fogg, the classic
upper class Englishman who is never fazed by the obstacles encountered on the
journey. Rubber-faced Wayne Scott
Kermond is right at home with this type of comedy. He is particularly funny as the Indian
Princess and Sharon Millerchip is terrific in a gender-bending performance as
Passepartout, Fogg’s valet. The scene she
shares with Kermond where she gets steadily drunk is especially well done with
a fine sense of comic timing.
Set design, costumes, lighting and sound all work fine. If the producers had supplied a program I could have told
you who was responsible for them. Director,
Terence O’Connell, keeps the show all moving at a fast pace but it just never
seems inventive enough.
(The image above shows two earlier cast members, not the
current players.)
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s ‘Artcetera’ program (9.00am Saturdays)
and on other selected Artsound programs.