Joy Watters reviews Pitlochry Festival Theatre's production of the JM Barrie classic.
JM Barrie’s satirical social commentary on the Edwardian class system sets off at a cracking pace in Richard Baron’s production. It retains its hold as it progresses, broadening out to embrace the comic and poignant elements of Barrie’s work.
It begins and ends in the Mayfair home of Lord Loam, whose social engineering involves bringing all the servants upstairs for tea with the family once a month. The resultant gathering hilariously demonstrates what an excruciating experience it is for all, particularly Crichton, the butler.
Social order is turned on its head when his Lordship and family together with a clutch of servants set off on his yacht, only to be marooned on a desert island. The toffs are hopeless at the practical side of life and Crichton, armed with his leadership and engineering skills, becomes the head of the island community.
Known to all as The Guv (let’s not forget he does come from below stairs), Crichton is given an outstanding portrayal by Dougal Lee. Lee captures the butler’s delight in being able to invent and organise the team but also hints at his sense that this is a short-lived experience and the social order will inevitably be restored. The poignancy of the sense that no dream can last, which marks Barrie’s work, is sensitively explored.
He first fancies Tweeny the maid, amazed that someone so low could interest him. “Strange that someone so common should attract someone so fastidious,” he muses. The island gives Crichton the freedom to turn his thoughts to his Lordship’s daughter, Lady Mary. She and her sisters shed the restrictions of their sex and social position to romp in buckskin breeches armed with bows and arrows a la Barrie’s Lost Boys.
The Pitlochry ensemble, seventeen strong in this production, pulls together to create a rewarding production. Alan Steele sure-footedly narrates as Barrie, conveying both the writer’s acuity and wit.
A comic delight is Keith McLeish’s nephew of Lord Loam, the Hon Ernest Woolley. He is spot on with his shiny-faced upper-class twit confidence and conviction that it is extremely important to be this Ernest.
Director Baron has created a full-rounded version of this Barrie classic.
Runs in repertoire at Pitlochry Festival Theatre until October 15.
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