THEATRE REVIEWS

Barry Rutter strides onto the stage and surveys the audience. His fellow actors make ready with their musical instruments. You notice the superb costumes of the players, designed by Designer Jessica Worrall and her staff. This is the Northern Broadsides players at their best and they have not uttered a word. What will follow?

Today we have Richard Brinsley Sheridan with his farce The School for Scandal and what mischief we are about to witness. Mischief is the name of the game for those who assemble and talk of others. Sheridan's words are cutting and funny and show that life today is still the same. There are those who get pleasure from finding the smallest faults in others. Everyone falls into this slot from time to time. This shows you what a good observer of human nature the playwright is. Non of this is made possible without a person with seeing eyes who can direct actors and get from them that little bit extra, that man is Barry Rutter. His acting is faultless as he shows us his character, the miserable, and he thinks oppressed, Sir Peter who has just taken on a new young wife Lady Teazle played by Sally Carman, who likes a row if one can be had, indeed they both do. Indeed one of the best in the play is between her and her husband, which does not come to blows. We have Andrew Pollard, well named as Backbite, and his conspirator Crabtree played by Andrew Whitehead, who create laughter throughout the theatre with their customs and antics as they tear everyone's character to shreds. Now what do you say about the rest of the cast, just one word, magnificent; they play musical instruments, they sing, and they utter the language to perfection, so that every word is heard and enjoyed. For the plot you will have to go to see this tale set in the eighteenth century with its manners and customs.

So what did the audience think? They loved it, the time had passed so quickly and they would remember it on the morrow. Go see this play if it comes your way. This is how theatre should be glued together. London will not be given the privilege to see this. Great. © BA

“School for Scandal” is in repertory at the Round in Scarborough from the 20th September to the 24th of September, 2005 and then continues touring. This is a No Smoking theatre.