
Fearing he will kill his future wife, Lord Arthur considers which of his distant elderly relatives he could do away with instead. Enlisting the help of Mr Podger, Lord Arthur hatches various outrageous plots and plans to commit his crime before marrying Miss Merton.
Much of the press focus has been on Mead and his transition from the musical stage - which he does very well - and this is in danger of overshadowing what is a brilliant production. The play bounds along at a great and enjoyable pace full of Wilde's humour - which has succeeded in transcending time and culture - and some fantastic acting.
Kate O'Mara performs brilliantly as the frightfully wonderful London socialite Lady Windermere and David Moss plays a convincingly eccentric and confused Dean of Chicester. But it is the genius pairing of Mr Podger (Gary Wilmot) and the explosive German Herr Winkelkopf (Derren Nesbitt) that embodies Wilde's humour and carries the comedy through the darker moments. From curtain up, Mead perfectly executes his part, complete with Victorian London gentry accent and comic timing, showing he has got what it takes to be a well rounded stage actor.
The performance is enhanced by great set design for a travelling production, placing us in the heart of upper class Victorian London, and quality musicians, Anna McNicholas and Matthew Wycliffe, who sit on stage throughout, with Wycliffe making a brief entrance as a cockney copper patrolling Embankment.
Notable moments of opening night:
Lee Mead's wonderfully comical expressions.
Louisa Clein's off-stage violin duet with Anna McNicholas.
Gary Wilmot's punctuated egg and soldiers breakfast.
Derren Nesbitt's Herr Winkelkopf's Zorro-like entrances and exits.
Showing at Sheffield Lyceum for one week only until January 23rd 2010.
Box Office: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
A beautiful production in a beautiful theatre,well-suited to this very Victorian-style performance. All the cast were excellent and Lee Mead proved he is an actor to be reckoned with as he is on stage for practically all of the time with lots of lines to memorise. Even if you're not sure about Oscar Wilde this is well worth an fun evening out.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this play.
ReplyDeleteLee Mead was fantastic as Lord
Arthur, the whole cast were brilliant. All in all a very
entertaining and enjoyable evening.
Well worth a visit when it comes to your area.