Southend Drama Society
presents Alan Bennett’s great British comedy
Habeas Corpus
6th - 9th December 2017
Dixon Studio at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
presents Alan Bennett’s great British comedy
Habeas Corpus
6th - 9th December 2017
Dixon Studio at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
I believe that Alan Bennett's 1973 comedy, Habeas Corpus, is supposed to be a satirical knock on the stock characters that typify your run of the mill farce - a randy GP, the sexually frustrated housewife, a naughty vicar and so on, all emerge from the pages of this script.
This play’s grotesque characters should almost emerge on to the stage in some form of comedia dell'arte kind of creation, such is each of their stock types.
Played through this theatrical genre it would be easier to appreciate the satire seeping through in all its ludicrous glory, however, Southend Drama Society seem to have taken Bennett’s prose entirely at face value and despite some valiant attempts at drawing any humour from this completely dated play, all that really comes across is a hugely sexist, vulgar and rather offensive piece of theatre. The problem is that, ironically, there is absolutely nothing remotely amusing about this play whatsoever.
Set in the Wicksteed’s home in Hove, the action revolves around the thwarted libidos of the principal characters, with the oversexed Dr Wicksteed lusting and leering after younger lady patients old enough to be his daughter, his frustrated wife, Muriel, their hypochondriac son and characters such as Mrs Swabb, Cannon Throbbing and Lady Rumpers - it’s all just one big saucy seaside postcard of smutty goings on.
Of all the fabulous choices of plays for am dram groups to put on I have to wonder, whatever possessed Southend Drama Society to put on this production? God only knows - although to be fair, with the titillating picture on the advertising poster of a doctor examining a buxom young lady patient's breasts and the brief synopsis describing a show of ‘mismanaged lust, dropped trousers, and bursting libidos’, it certainly doesn't disguise what's in store once you’ve bought your ticket. However, I can assure you that this is nowhere near your average type farce, not by any stretch of the imagination.
The cast in this production are all experienced performers and make a jolly good fist of what direction they've been given by Simon Lawler, who also takes on the role of Canon Throbbing. I take my hat off to them for seeing this production through and they do put in some good performances, not least from Helen Mitchell as Mrs Swabb who acts as a kind of narrator of the piece in her role of the archetypal busybody cleaning lady. Samantha Lowe also makes a good job of her character, Muriel Wicksteed. I’m still undecided as to whether Dyanna Michelle was the only person who played her character as it was meant to be played in Bennett’s eyes or if she just decided to go completely over the top in despair in the role of Lady Rumpers. Either way it was all rather exhausting.
Perhaps I should’ve asked Donald Trump to review this one! I’m afraid this is one play that I can honestly say, I never want to see again.
Tickets are available on www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
This play’s grotesque characters should almost emerge on to the stage in some form of comedia dell'arte kind of creation, such is each of their stock types.
Played through this theatrical genre it would be easier to appreciate the satire seeping through in all its ludicrous glory, however, Southend Drama Society seem to have taken Bennett’s prose entirely at face value and despite some valiant attempts at drawing any humour from this completely dated play, all that really comes across is a hugely sexist, vulgar and rather offensive piece of theatre. The problem is that, ironically, there is absolutely nothing remotely amusing about this play whatsoever.
Set in the Wicksteed’s home in Hove, the action revolves around the thwarted libidos of the principal characters, with the oversexed Dr Wicksteed lusting and leering after younger lady patients old enough to be his daughter, his frustrated wife, Muriel, their hypochondriac son and characters such as Mrs Swabb, Cannon Throbbing and Lady Rumpers - it’s all just one big saucy seaside postcard of smutty goings on.
Of all the fabulous choices of plays for am dram groups to put on I have to wonder, whatever possessed Southend Drama Society to put on this production? God only knows - although to be fair, with the titillating picture on the advertising poster of a doctor examining a buxom young lady patient's breasts and the brief synopsis describing a show of ‘mismanaged lust, dropped trousers, and bursting libidos’, it certainly doesn't disguise what's in store once you’ve bought your ticket. However, I can assure you that this is nowhere near your average type farce, not by any stretch of the imagination.
The cast in this production are all experienced performers and make a jolly good fist of what direction they've been given by Simon Lawler, who also takes on the role of Canon Throbbing. I take my hat off to them for seeing this production through and they do put in some good performances, not least from Helen Mitchell as Mrs Swabb who acts as a kind of narrator of the piece in her role of the archetypal busybody cleaning lady. Samantha Lowe also makes a good job of her character, Muriel Wicksteed. I’m still undecided as to whether Dyanna Michelle was the only person who played her character as it was meant to be played in Bennett’s eyes or if she just decided to go completely over the top in despair in the role of Lady Rumpers. Either way it was all rather exhausting.
Perhaps I should’ve asked Donald Trump to review this one! I’m afraid this is one play that I can honestly say, I never want to see again.
Tickets are available on www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
|
Ask the Audience
Roger Powell, Southend on Sea "I didn't know of the play any more than its theatre website description. I have seen many excellent amateur productions here in the past. The subject matter and situation has not stood the test of time well. I can forgive a play not being very "PC" if the situation is funny enough, so I don't really understand why Southend Drama Society chose to present this play. There were some good jokes, and the cast did their best and the play had its moments - just not really enough. The pace could have been a little quicker which would have helped." |
|