By Tony Flood
The School for Scandal
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
Tuesday, 19th March, 2024 to Saturday, 23rd March, 2024
All images by Robling-Photography
The School for Scandal was written 247 years ago by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, yet its theme of spreading unfounded gossip relates to the ‘fake news’ we often hear today.
Unfortunately, neither this, nor an invite by production company Tilted Wig to “join us for a lightning-paced evening of romance, revenge and rollicking fun,” could prevent a lot of empty seats for the first night at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, on Tuesday.
Tilted Wig and director Seán Aydon updated the play by changing the setting from 1777 to the 1950s, complete with smart, distinctive costumes and a row of telephones. But at times they tried too hard to ‘sell it’, with the result that there was so much tittle-tattle spread by various gossiping characters in the opening scenes that it became confusing.
Joseph Marcell, the only member of the eight-strong cast not to play more than one role, took full advantage of the fact that Sir Peter Teazle was the easiest for the audience to understand.
Marcell, perhaps best known for his role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and also seen in Death in Paradise and A Touch of Frost, perfectly captured elderly, frustrated Sir Peter who regrets marrying the much younger free-spending Lady Teazle, excellently played by Lydea Perkins.
Her mud-slinging friends Lady Sneerwell (Emily-Jane McNeill) and Mrs Candour (also played by Lydea Perkins) don’t care about destroying reputations.
Sir Peter is led to believe that his wife is having an affair. She isn’t, but decides she might as well do so if the accusations are being made.
A sub-plot involves brothers Charles (Garmon Rhys) and Joseph (Alex Phelps) – one good, the other bad. Their rich uncle, Sir Oliver (Tony Timberlake) returns after a long absence and sets about discovering what Charles and Joseph are really like.
The brothers both see the advantage of marrying Sir Peter’s ward, heiress Maria (Ayesha Griffiths). Guy Dennys plays both Rowley and aptly-named informer Snake to complete an enthusiastic cast which treated us to a dance at the end of the play.
