NT Live The Beaux Stratagem

This was glorious , much fun yet thought provoking too. Here's my Sydney Arts Guide reveiw http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/nt-live-presents-george-farquhars-the-beaux-stratagem/ Written in 1707 THE BEAUX STRATEGEM is George Farquhar’s last play. A wonderful Restoration Comedy, as directed terrifically by Simon Godwin, it is bright, busy, action packed and full of derring-do. It bubbles, sparkles and has the audience in fits of laughter at times with its delicious witty dialogue, plot, counter–plot, and yet is also full of hidden dark layers. Especially in regards to its depiction of the way women were treated, it has plenty of relevance for todays’ audiences. In Farquhar’s play the ‘Beaux’ of the title are two dashing young men, ,Mr Aimwell and Mr Archer, charming and rather dissolute, who have fled to provincial Lichfield from London in order to escape their debts. Their ‘stratagem’ is to marry for money. They are the best of friends, practically brothers. Posing as servant and master they lodge at the local inn run by Boniface and his independent- minded daughter Cherry. During the play they discover assorted obstacles to their mission– plot, counter plot, highwaymen, a treacherous Irish priest (or is he?), a corrupt landlord, a scheming maid , a handsome passionate French Count , an angry butler and a wise woman healer…Nothing is as it seems . And when Cupid’s dart hits they are most at risk because all might need to be revealed … This production features a wonderful multilevel set which with assorted flourishes and song for scene changes becomes the various locale, switching seamlessly between a high galleried, rich country house and an inn. The lighting was dramatic and atmospheric or complementary where necessary. The music, singing and dancing were vibrantly incorporated and performed with great exuberance and panache. Wonderful! The period costume designs – especially for Mrs Sullen- were are ravishing . There’s wonderful comic timing for the gang of highwayman that plan the nighttime robbery and the fencing/fight scene in Act 2 with its split second precision and co-ordination was a huge audience pleaser. Mention must also be made of the ‘trifle ‘dance. Our two Beaux, Mr Aimwell and Mr Archer , were swoon worthily played by Samuel Barnett and Geoffrey Streatfield. They played them joyously and exuberantly, and the flirtation/love scenes were enchanting. As our leading lady Mrs Sullen, Susannah Fielding was outstanding. A blonde vision in pink red and white she was exquisite. She acts as Farquhar’s mouthpiece on the subject of women, marriage and divorce and how they can be patronized and referred to as a ‘child”. Mrs Sullen was a bright, intelligent and energetic woman trapped in a very unhappy, incompatible marriage and in her monologues she expresses the difficulties inherent in her situation. In one scene, she turns to the audience and asks ( I paraphrase somewhat ) ‘In England, a country whose women are its glory, must women be abused?!’ and searches for freedom. Mr Sullen as played by Richard Henders, is shown as a bull-headed, hard, drunken, unkempt and unsympathetic husband. We first see him drunk, filthy and smelly but when clean and sober he can be quite distinguished and the final scene is actually quite moving. Dark, luscious Dorinda was excellently played by Pippa Bennett- Warner as a strong and feisty woman. Poor Scrub the butler with his wounded heart was terrifically played by Pearce Quigley. Timothy Watson was tremendous as the dashingly handsome French Count with a delectable French accent. Verdict. This NT Live presentation was mesmerising, rip-roaring, delicious fun. Running Time. Three Hours including one interval and a short, behind the scenes documentary. NT Live’s production of THE BEAUX STRATAGEM is currently screening in cinemas.