The Stage

The Count Of Monte Cristo

Published Thursday 22 April 2010 at 12:55 by Kevin Berry

Dumas’ epic tale of revenge and redemption, and believe me it is an epic, is given an invigorating blast of fresh air in this production.

Energetic and ever inventive, alive with intoxicating dancing and lusty singing, it is cleverly played by an ensemble cast of six.

The story remains true to the period but its theatricality is clearly modern. There are many instances of wildly irreverent humour but overall the production shows a healthy respect for the original. It retains Dumas’ gripping, almost relentless narrative.

Young and impossibly naive Edmond Dantes falls foul of self-serving folk who engineer his downfall. He is incarcerated in an infamous prison. After many years Dantes escapes, he finds a great fortune left to him by a fellow prisoner and carefully plots his revenge.

Thanks to fight director Kate Waters the swashbuckling is exciting and great fun. In just one delicious sequence Dantes is taught fencing and he gradually becomes a master swordsman, taking on five opponents. It is funny because it is done so very well and with such style.

Daniel Rigby makes a fine Dantes. His manipulation of his enemies during the final act is masterly, like a Godfather movie plot. The ensemble players all manage prodigious feats of character changing, some in split seconds and all with commendable ease.

They also pluck skilfully away at various stringed instruments when the time is opportune. Duncan Wisbey tucks into some wonderful characters and Tilly Gaunt shows many neat comic touches. But, above all, this is a team effort.