Far From the Madding Crowd

Published Monday 28 April 2008 at 11:10 by Lalayn Baluch

Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel and first major critical success captures the lives of those residing in the rural heartland of fictional county Wessex, during the latter half of the 19th century.

An epic piece of writing, John Cooper’s adaptation does well to pack the plot into less than two hours, fitting in the various twists and turns that surround central character Bathsheba Everdene’s romances.

The story is easy to understand, but occasionally it feels rushed. There isn’t time to get a feel for the characters, because they run on and off stage before the audience has a chance to remember who they are. If only they could deliver a line, take a breath, and actually develop a rapport with their fellow cast members.

However, what really lets down Harry Meacher’s production is its profound lack of oomph. Like its minimalist set, designed by John Dalton, everything about this show is white and beige, and desperately screaming for colour.

The couples on stage lack chemistry and the final scene, which sees the heroine and Gabriel Oak confess their love for each other, happens so suddenly that it might as well be part of a different show.

Holly Hinton’s Bathsheba is a pretty marionette rather than a haughty, vain and lively leading lady. Her lack of energy dampens the atmosphere of the scenes that she is in - which is most of them.

Thankfully James French plays a convincing and powerful Gabriel, and his physical presence on stage emphasises the character’s quiet dominance over his fellow farmers, while Seamus Newham’s obsessive Boldwood is almost compelling.

David Seymour gives one of the best performances of the play as Sergeant Troy, when he collapses with grief in front of the corpse of his former lover, and Lydia Larson and Kathryn Worth bring some light relief as the comic, gossip-mongering maids.

Meanwhile, diminutive Marian Elizabeth, while only in the show for a few scenes, is completely natural as Fanny Robins and is pleasing to watch.