By Moliére
Directed by Peter
Evans
Bell Shakespeare Company
The Playhouse,
Canberra Theatre Centre to 20 April
Reviewed by Len Power
12 April 2019
Moliére’s ‘The Miser’, first produced in Paris in 1668 is a
comedy about family dynamics and greed as well as the conflict and chaos that
can reign in the interplay between love, manipulation and money. It comes up as fresh as a daisy in this new production
by Bell Shakespeare Company which was translated and written by Justin Fleming
and directed by Peter Evans.
Filled with sparkling wit and sprinkled with Aussie slang,
Justin Fleming’s script is a delight. I’m
sure that if you saw the show a second time, you would pick up on many things
you missed the first time.
Director, Peter Evans, adds another dimension with his
terrific staging of the show. It moves
at a breathless pace with great clarity and depth. It’s full of expertly played physical comedy
as well as clear delivery of the high-speed dialogue. Even the scene changes are funny.
His cast of nine excellent comedians perform with wicked
relish. At the centre of the show is John
Bell as the miser, Harpagon, in a powerful performance of an old man struggling
to maintain control of his wealth and the lives of those around him. His dexterity with the words is masterful as
is his comic timing. It’s a performance to
remember.
John Bell (centre) with Damien Strouthos (left) and Harriet Gordon-Anderson (right) |
The other cast members all have their moments to shine. Harriet Gordon-Anderson as Élise and Jessica
Tovey as Valére are delightful and warm in their loving relationship. Damien
Strouthos is great fun as the energetic and frantic son, Cleante and Michelle
Doake is strong and commanding as the scheming matchmaker, Frosine. Elizabeth Nabben deftly plays the confusion
of being the intended of both Harpagon and Cleante and Jamie Oxenbould is
hysterically funny as the servant, Master Jacques. Sean O’Shea is a wonderfully snooty Signor
Anselm as well as the sulky servant, La Fleche.
Also highly effective in dual roles is Russell Smith as Master Simon,
the loan shark, and as the Commissioner of Police with an amusingly strong
Australian drawl.
From left: Sean O'Shea, Harriet Gordon-Anderson, Jessica Tovey, John Bell, Elizabeth Nabben, Michelle Doake and Russell Smith |
There’s a fine lighting design by Matt Cox and Anna Tregloan’s
towering curved set with four doors that get quite a workout is excellent as
are her colourful period-crossing costume designs.
It’s always surprising how modern the ideas and characters
are in Moliére’s plays. Justin Fleming’s
clever writing honours the original and, combined with Peter Evans’ direction, the
result is an outstanding and enjoyable evening of theatre.
Photos by Prudence Upton
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.