The School For Scandal at Royal Shakespeare Theatre Review

The School For Scandal at Royal Shakespeare Theatre Review

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Posted 2024-07-13 by Alison in Birmingham follow

Tue 09 Jul 2024 - Fri 06 Sep 2024




Feathers and corsets shimmer in a highly stylised opening reminiscent of Madonna's Vogue video. Everything is pink, no pastel shades here, only fluorescent fuscia. Welcome to a very modern adaptation of Sheridan's restoration comedy that feels like Netflix's Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl.

Scandal and unadulterated gossip is the order of the day in this light-hearted tale by the Royal Shakespeare Company(RSC) for its Summer season. The School For Scandal runs at Stratford-upon-Avon's Royal Shakespeare Theatre until September 6.

Although written by Sheridan back in the 1770s, emerging talent Tinuke Craig has directed and adapted it well for current times and it feels far more contemporary. A servant tells her gentry boss to 'F*** off' and the soundtrack feels like a remix by Dutch DJ Tiesto. Yes, she's taken some liberties with the script, but it's breezy, effervescent escapism that works.

At its heart is a Georgian love story of an older husband Sir Peter Teazle, who dotes on his new, much younger wife although they disagree on everything. Lady Teazle is being enticed into adultery and the gossiping inner circle in society - a motley crew of excessive, hilarious characters not too dissimilar from Bridgerton's The Ton.

There's the scheming and aptly named Lady Sneerwell, who comically shuffles around in an enormously wide Georgian dress. She's played astutely by Siubhan Harrison, seen in the RSC's other Summer comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor . Most of that fine cast is between both plays as they are playing in rep alongside each other.



Stealing the limelight is fantastic Emily Houghton, pictured above, as Mrs Candour, a haughty gossip-monger who is constantly practically hyper-ventilating at every little morsel of information. She makes her engrossingly atrocious.

Equally comic is Patrick Walshe McBride's turn as sneering Sir Benjamin Backbite in a posh ex-Eton schoolboy fashion. This trio are devilishly vicious with no self-awareness and a delight every time they appear on stage.

When it comes to entrances, most characters are raised from under the stage through three lifts. It makes the production seem even more slick. Fashion and carnal desires are at its core too. There are distinct colour themes of only pink and black throughout while the characters dip their fingers into huge cakes, as pictured below, licking the cream off their fingers.



The main story on hypocrisy and honesty is about brothers Charles and Joseph Surface. The first a partying rake(John Leader) and the latter a seemingly pious worthy gentleman(Stefan Adegbola). When their uncle Sir Oliver Surface secretly returns to the UK from living abroad, he is able to disguise himself to see which of the brothers deserves his inheritance - and he finds surprising results.

Well-known actor Wil Johnson is marvellous as Sir Oliver, transforming his identity with various comical accents. Johnson shows his great aptitude for comedy although more famous for gripping dramas like Waking The Dead, Clocking Off and Outlander.

He finds cross-dressing raver Charles trying to sell off the family heirlooms to pay his debts while preaching Joseph has naughty secrets of his own.

The School For Scandal may be a highly stylised production with sensational period costumes of big wigs and huge dresses but that doesn't distract from the well-crafted work in making this age-old comedy fit for modern times.

Director Craig, who was behind the well-received revival of The Color Purple for Leicester Curve, has weaved in jokes referring to current politicians and there's a lovely way of handling mention of the slave trading East India Company that Sir Oliver works for.

The School For Scandal is a vivid and beautifully refreshing reworking for modern times.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars


The School For Scandal is at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until September 6.

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290065 - 2024-07-09 15:18:00

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