Social climber and “pineapple of politeness” Mrs Malaprop is determined to make her drama queen niece Lydia Languish a fortuitous match. Enter the inconveniently wealthy Captain Jack Absolute who, in an attempt to fulfil Lydia’s romantic ambition to marry into poverty, disguises himself as a poor soldier - with hilarious consequences. Read more …
The Rivals is an elegant comedy of manners set in a world of dress up and complex social etiquette bordering on the absurd. It was inspired by Sheridan’s own romantic entanglements which fed the gossip-mongers of his day with endless scandal and tittle-tattle.
A real treat.
Director Dominic Hill boldly places a brattish, spoilt teenager at the heart of his engaging revival of Sheridan’s comedy of manners.
It was a similar feeling to seeing a really good modern update of Shakespeare for the first time and suddenly understanding the characters, their lines and the jokes.
So what seems like a witty, energetic romp has, on a closer look, its own depths and a message for our own times. An art that conceals art, indeed.
If the assorted picture frames that fly in and out with assorted painted backdrops are as artificial as the mirrors are empty of glass on designer Tom Rogers' set, the point about how looks can be deceptive is made even clearer.
The Rivals runs a real risk of outstaying its welcome, not least as it slowly engineers a happy ending for nigh on everyone on the stage.
A Richard Brinsley Sheridan play is always an enjoyable confection of absolutely no calorific value whatsoever, but a treat of wordplay and ribaldry nonetheless.
The touch is light, as cast members move around the back of the stage, pluck garments from the costume-rail, and exchange smiles with the harpsichord player; leaving plenty of space for our imaginations to move between then and now, and on into the future.
Hill and his universally outstanding cast seem to grasp the play’s pace and timing almost intuitively.
Theatre preview: The Rivals
Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday November 2, 2016, until Saturday November 19, 2016. More info: www.citz.co.uk
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