Sheridan’s 18th century drama has the potential to bring the delights of Comedy of Manners back to this 21st century audience, with its flourishing language and exuberant costumes – not to mention the powder and wigs! It does, however, disappoint on various levels including muddy blocking, actors masking one another and more dialogue chewed up and swallowed than articulately projected. The plethora of ‘actors’ include such names as Lionel Blair, Marcus Brigstock, Stephen K Amos and Richard Thomson.
A simple two-dimensional black and white period set is constructed on a traditional proscenium arch stage, clad with actors in vibrantly colourful and ornate costumes, wigs and handkerchiefs. All of these excel in setting the scene for Sheridan’s School for Scandal, of which the packed auditorium excitedly await.
The famous screen scene is probably the pinnacle of this performance. With some intelligent movement and direction, the delivery of intended comedic entertainment ensues as Sir Peter hides and Joseph attempts to get a confession from Charles about his relationship with Lady Teazle. Unsurprisingly this fails and whilst the characters romp around the stage in an attempt to conceal the truth, the audience respond with rapturous laughter. They are drastically let down though by the other scenes in the play, in which performers devise their own lines with the scary potential to divert the entire plot on occasion.
Fortunately Ella Kenion, who plays Mrs Candour, manages to drag the dishevelled performance up to reasonable scratch. The wonderfully entertaining comedienne and accomplished actor performs with flair and refreshing credibility, fighting strong amongst the mish-mash of improvisation, ad-libbing and blatant corpsing on stage by the likes of Lionel Blair. However, Blair does eventually try to resolve matters with a quick step and jazz hands!
The broth of Sheridan’s play is most certainly spoiled by too many upstaging comedians and not enough talent in the acting department, branding this classical play as more of a pantomime than a comedy of manners.
2/5 
Craig Serrels
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