THEATRE REVIEWS

As you enter the Bristol Old Vic, it slowly begins to dawn on you that something is different. The pink tulips that adorn every available surface; the fuchsia tights worn by the PR girls; and then, as you enter the auditorium, you see the rose-coloured curtain, boldly emblazoned with a wedding cake sporting two grooms. Finally, as the curtain rises, the audience is confronted by a drawing room set for tea. Nothing unusual in that, you might say, apart from the fact that the wallpaper is a shocking pink and adorned with cucumbers, and the entire back wall consists of an enormous handbag. Welcome to the Wilde world of David Fielding.

The plot centres around two roués who adopt the name Earnest when wooing their lovers. So far, so familiar, you might think; but this production of Wilde's final play confounds all of our expectations about the piece. Previous performances I have seen have combined strong acting with rather dull, proper sets. This time, the stage is a riot of colour and accordingly the audience burst into delighted cheers and whistles as the curtain rose. What's more, in choosing an all male cast, director David Fielding has made audiences consider not only Wilde's sexuality but also that of the two male protagonists, who flounce their way through the performance, flirting as much with each other as with their heroines.

Of these two, Christopher Staines plays the (relatively) straight man, Jack, to James Frost's outrageously camp Algernon and the combination works wonderfully. However, their thunder is stolen when Gwendolen, played by Simon Trinder, appears on stage. In a severe pinstripe frock, with a miniscule hat perched on his head, Trinder's Gwendolen is brazen and forthright, and creates a marvellously strong, masculine woman. Every gesture, every inflection, is spot on and he captivates the audience. His counterpart Cecily (played by Joseph Chance) is also excellent, gently feminine and with a penchant for flowers, and the two provide a very amusing contrast.

Great care has been taken by the creative team to ensure that each detail is just so. The costumes by Stevie Stewart are sharp twists on period dress; the butler wears a morning suit, as would be expected, but this version is shocking pink, and Lady Bracknell is a battleship of a figure in imposing black and corsets. The set, by David Fielding as previously mentioned, is a drawing room, but seen through a psychedelic haze of pink and green, and the stage is surrounded by sparkling lights, designed by Adam Silverman, as one would see in a starlet's dressing room. Upbeat music, directed by Gary Yershon, including Billy Idol and Madonna, fills the auditorium during the intervals and, overall, each element is exactly right.

It is hard to convey quite how entertaining this production is, but let me just say that the audience was continuously laughing and that I'm sure I was not alone in wanting to return again the very next night. Somehow, this production provides the perfect foil for Wilde's outrageous dialogue and I for one don't think that a traditional version will ever be quite enough again. © KA

“The Importance of Being Earnest” is in Bristol on the 29th April until the 28th of May, 2005.