A Single Leaf has taken George Etherege’s ribald restoration romp and brought it bang up to date, setting it in and around the night clubs and coffee bars of 21st-century London.
After 300 years, pretty much each of Etherege’s characters are still thriving and Jo Kennedy’s astute adaptation overflows with Facebook, texts and Twitter references, replacing whispered asides and scurrilous pamphlets.
It’s a conceit that works well and is helped by reducing the story down to lunchtime theatre proportions. As director, Kennedy flounders a little and there is a disappointing lack of focus in the latter half that leads to an unsatisfactory conclusion. On the whole, city workers pushed for time and in need of a laugh should enjoy it tremendously.
The acting is variable with Will Seaward streets ahead as the ridiculous fop, Sir Fopling Flutter, preening, posturing and bristling with the latest ridiculous trends direct from NYC.
Gavin Harrison never really has the presence to play a particularly irresistible Dorimant and only comes into his own when louting about with John Last as Medley and Robert Madeley as the young Bellair.
Amongst the ladies of the cast, Audrey Schoellhammer hits her mark as the hard done by Mrs Loveit and Victoria Croft appears to have a great time scheming as Belinda.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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