MRS Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s classic play The Rivals is one of English theatre’s enduring comic creations; it’s good to see this witty spoof on love, deception and social pretension getting a revival.
MRS Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s classic play The Rivals is one of English theatre’s enduring comic creations; it’s good to see this witty spoof on love, deception and social pretension getting a revival.
And an excellent revival it was, at the Pomegranate last Saturday in the capable and inventive hands of Creative Cow.
In the best tradition of small theatre companies, they achieved a lot with a little, without compromising on quality. The staging was little more than fairy-lit scaffolding and elegant chairs: simple but effective.
The women’s costumes were 18th century underwear. The men changed jackets, wigs and accents to denote different characters – of which a cast of six portrayed 12, with skill, wit and good acting.
Perhaps most important of all in a play whose language style isn’t altogether familiar to modern audiences, every line came across crisp and clean and the broad humour was loud and clear. The verbal mangling which made Mrs Malaprop (played by Creative Cow founding member Katherine Senior) a household name raised a laugh every time.
It was a pity this fun production visited Chesterfield for just one night. However, you can catch it at Buxton Opera House on Wednesday, October 3.
LYNNE PATRICK
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