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by George Farquhar
24th Feb - 1st March 2003
Directed by Heather Simpkin
This rousing comedy sees a pair of attractive, but impoverished young gentlemen, plotting to repair their broken fortunes by posing as a lord and his servant in an effort to persuade a rich lady into marriage. After some dalliance with Bonniface, the landlord of an inn and his pretty daughter Cherry, Aimwell sets his sights on Dorinda, the beauteous, but innocent, daughter of Lady Bountiful. Archer, posing as Aimwell's servant, makes illicit advances to the cautiously receptive Mrs Sullen who's husband would much rather spend his time drinking than paying attention to his wife. A plot by a gang of nefarious highwaymen will be foiled and love will blossom for Archer and Aimwell before the hilarious climax. Considered to be one of the best works of British comedy ever written, The Beaux Stratagem is a true Restoration classic.
Click here for Review Henley Standard 28th February 2003
THE BEAUX STRATEGEM produced by HAODS at The Kenton Theatre
24th February - 4th March 2003
Review from Henley Standard 28th February 2003
The Beaux’ Strategem — the delightful Restoration comedy written by George Farquhar in 1707 — is a play that has remained popular throughout the changes in taste and fashion over the past three centuries. Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s production, directed by Heather Simpkin, presents all five acts at a ripping pace, with Peter Dayton’s elegant stage sets ingeniously designed for quick scenery changes.
The talented cast in their energetic portrayal of the upper and lower class boisterousness of early 18th century life in England effectively come to grips with the highly mannered language and behaviour of the period. In immensely stimulating and memorable performances, Ioan Havard and James Gwynne appear to relish each moment in their roles as the two fortune-hunters Aimwell and Archer — the ‘beaux’ from London visiting provincial towns and taking it in turns to pose as master and servant.As part of a scheme to find a rich wife or widow, they arrive at an inn at Lichfield where it is Aimwell’s turn to be master.
But the two 18th century men of fashion start by encountering other conmen, like innkeeper Boniface, amusingly portrayed by Frank Augur, and highwayman Gibbet (Daniel Powell), and it’s some time before Aimwell is able to become well acquainted with an ‘eligible’ young lady. Meanwhile, his ‘servant’ Archer has amorous encounters with the innkeeper’s daughter Cherry (Victoria Cooper) and the unhappily married Mrs Sullen (Grainne Keegan), and these three (pictured) give outstanding performances. Miss Keegan is brilliant in her handling of both Archer and her disagreeable husband Squire Sullen (whose cantankerous character is hilariously portrayed by Bruce Smith). Witnessing Archer’s amorous pursuits, Aimwell regards it all as a waste of time, since “no woman can be a beauty without a fortune”, and he patiently waits for his own opportunity. It comes after he pretends to be taken ill outside the mansion of Lady Bountiful (Rose Macleod) and is invited into the house. There he meets the unmarried daughter Dorinda, charmingly played by Morna Towers, and the two immediately become attracted to each other, and she hopes they will soon be married.But the matter of marriage is not a happy one for Lady Bountiful’s son, the constantly tipsy Squire Sullen. His behaviour is found to be unacceptable not only to his wife but even the highwayman Gibbet, who — in extending his criticism to the Squire’s boon companions — exclaims how he “was ashamed to be seen in their company.”
And in the way that the Squire treats his wife, Farquhar brings on stage the problems of a loveless marriage, and explains why Mrs Sullen looks elsewhere for affection.At the end of the play, the question is raised about the possibility of divorce by mutual consent — an unheard of solution in those days but an idea that Farquhar apparently derived from the controversial pamphlet by John Milton on The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (1643).
In this excellent theatrical presentation, there is good support from all the minor characters, particularly Ashley Stewart as the French prisoner-of-war Count Bellair and Robin Leach as Foigard, posing as a French priest. Clive Williams, in the role of the Squire’s servant Scrub, provides some of the most comic lines — as when he reports a conversation which he thinks must have been in French though he did not understand a word, except that “I believe they talked of me, for they laughed consumedly.”The innkeeper Boniface also has many amusing turns of speech, regularly punctuated with the phrase “as the saying is”. When he reports to Aimwell that someone was speaking in Latin, and is asked whether he understands Latin, his reply is: “Not I, Sir, as the saying is, but he talks it so very fast that I’m sure it must be Latin.” This is a show not to be missed. Further performances tonight (Friday) at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Box office (01491) 575698.
GEORGE CRANFORD
CAST
Mr Archer James Gwynne
Mr Aimwell Ioan Havard
Boniface Frank Augur
Squire Sullen Bruce Smith
Sir Charles Freeman Peter Dayton
Count Bellair Ashley Stewart
Foigard Robin Leach
Gibbet Dan Powell
Hounslow Jonathon Moses
Bagshot Ian Beyts
Scrub Clive Williams
Lady Bountiful Rose MacLeod
Mrs Sullen Grainne Keegan
Dorinda Morna Towers
Cherry Victoria Cooper
Gipsy Lou Mawbey
Country Woman Jan Beyts
Maid Hilary Dawes
PRODUCTION
Director
Heather Simpkin
Assistant Director
Lorainne Stiller
Director's Assistane
Miss Lindley
Lighting
Derek Gilbert
Stage Manager
Ann Dayton
Stage Design & Building
Peter Dayton
Stage Building
Simon Ruck
Wardrobe
Mrs Havard/Messrs RSC
Mistress of The Wardrobe
Ann Burley
Mistress's Assistant
Miss Massey
Hair & Wigs
Hazel West-Manning
Properties
Gill Coe
Make-up
Kate Carter-Windle
Sound
Mrs Richardson
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