Constance Cox’s take on Oscar Wilde’s story of a wealthy young aristocrat confronted with a fateful dilemma, on the eve of matrimony, takes its dramatic cues from the tradition of English tongue in cheek slapstick ahead of the progenitor’s characteristic pithy wit. Think Carry on Camping meets P. G. Woodhouse.
Our bumbling and naïve titular character (played with aplomb by Ben Robinson) navigates a quandary of imposed providence, assisted by his loyal, covalently bonded butler, Baines (John Fisher).
As the comedy of casual imbecility unfolds, various family members, in-laws-to-be and inept Bavarian bombers sashay across Lord Arthur’s lounge, frustrating and upending his misguided yet best-intended efforts to enter matrimony on a clean moral plateau.
The Western Players bring masses of enthusiasm and energy to the beautifully adorned period stage. Baines and Lord Arthur dally about the stage with a conniving indifference, Roger Trayhurn is on particularly good form as the absent minded and blithering Dean of Paddington; as is Maria Hiscock in her guise as the nice but dim Sybil Merton (Lord Arthur’s betrothed).
Podgers, enlisted chiromantist (ki-ro-man-tist) of the stern and imposing Lady Julia, foil to the happy fiancées, is satisfactorily sinister and slimy, whilst the aunts, Lady Windermere and Clementina, take the edge off with a welcome dose of brevity and self-pity. - by Joseph Theobald
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime – The Wester Players The Arts Centre, Swindon, until tomorrow
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