REVIEW

 

An Oscar for Navan Theatre Group

Lady Windermere’s Fan

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan

25th to 29th November 2009

 

Navan Theatre Group continued to treat audiences to an increasingly varied repertoire of drama with their latest production of Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. Staging Lady Windermere’s Fan is ambitious and challenging for any group and Navan Theatre Group achieved it to great acclaim from the sell out audiences that attended each night.

 

This was stunningly beautiful theatre from the director Caitríona Heslin who attended to both the style and essence of Wilde’s scorchingly witty social commentary in a production where the beauty of Wilde was uncovered for audiences to fully appreciate.

 

The opulent and complex set was a magnificent backdrop to all the drama, however nowhere was it more evident than in the dazzling ballroom scene which had sophistication and elegance. It was the perfect setting for the striking costumes and hair design which were showcased by suitable lighting and clever use of space.  The set and costumes were exquisitely realised with an astounding attention to detail throughout by the set design, costume and stage teams. They alone were worth the trip but they never overshadowed the performances as Wilde’s genius was held centre stage by Heslin’s assured directing.

 

Lady Windermere’s Fan is the story of a young and pure society Lady played by stage debutante Ruth Collins who misinterprets the relationship between her husband Lord Windermere played by Nigel Ryan and an older woman Mrs Erlynne who is in fact her mother, performed by Nöelle Tobin. Overall the plot is light and the focus is on witty banter that ridicules Victorian society. Wilde’s banter is not without its mischief and it cuts at the core of morality through witty and caustic epigrams/one liners that are still relevant today.

 

In this production the pace and timing never flagged and after a careful build up in Act 1 where Lady Windermere and Lord Darlington played by Michael Hughes - her would be suitor exchange pleasantries, the mood was livened by the entertaining and caustic wit of the society gossip the Duchess of Berwick, well delivered and timed by Bláithin FitzGerald. She had the lively audience well amused as she regaled them with gossip, chitchat and motherly gaucheness with the timid Lady Agatha played demurely by Katy Leech. This truly Victorian Duchess then contrived to match her daughter Agatha with a wealthy Australian Mr Hopper performed by Damien Cleere.  He ably demonstrated a life beyond Victorian society.  

Victorian styling, poise and etiquette are as essential to Wilde as the dialogue and this was admirably achieved by the large cast of twenty one as the Lords and Ladies sashayed about gracefully to beautiful music in their elegant costumes in the ball scene. The pomp of the era was well served by the inscrutable butler - Parker ably portrayed by Liam Ó Brádaigh and his assistant Rosalie played with appropriate poise by Ciara O’Reilly.   

 

Amongst those who attended at the ball was Lady Plymdale played by Joanne Donoghue who resplendent in a scarlet gown left a lasting impression - her parting comments were a gem of ‘upper crust spite’.  Also there, was Lord Augustus Lorton who was infatuated with Mrs Erlynne and was prepared to pursue her, whatever the circumstances. He was chided by the men, demeaned by Mrs Erlynne and loved by the audience. David Nelson delighted a responsive audience as he carried off the likable yet pompous Lord Augustus with ease.  

 

The drama sparkled into life in Act 11 with the show stopping entrance of the intriguing Mrs Erlynne, a disgraced woman who kept her true identity secret. The alluring Mrs Erlynne commanded attention immediately, she remained aloof from the women and tantalised the men as she moved closer to Lady Windermere. This brought a consummate performance from the superbly talented actress Nöelle Tobin as Mrs Erlynne – she held a rapt audience as she touchingly used her own fate to guide Lady Windermere and show us that she was indeed ‘a very good woman’.  

 

The production then moved from the aesthetic towards the increased depth that is always available in Wilde. From here onwards we saw the slow and sometimes painful emergence of Lady Windermere from an emotionally taut young woman to the tender, more understanding wife and mother. We were made to wait for it, as it came upon us ever so gently in the final Act culminating with the touching exchanges between Lady Margaret Windermere and Mrs. Margaret Erlynne. The growing relationship between mother and daughter and the recurrent patterns in their lives was one of the strengths in the production.  

 

This change in Lady Windermere drew tenderness from her husband Arthur and he overcame his paternal instincts and Victorian formality as a character. Windermere played by Nigel Ryan was the most difficult of characters as Wilde provided him with little respite in the role of the humourless, protective husband. Not for him the witty observations and dialogue of others and as he finally interrogated Mrs Erlynne, about her errant ways much to her unflinching displeasure, the drama provided Nigel Ryan with scope to demonstrate his considerable skill as an actor.

 

Lady Windermere was played by Ruth Collins, with natural grace and gentleness that befitted the role beautifully.  As this is Ms Collin’s first appearance on stage she undoubtedly ‘has a future before her’. The young actress handsomely confirmed her casting, as she maintained her aristocratic composure and aloofness in earlier scenes to be later transformed by the growing connection with Mrs Erlynne that brought her true beauty to the surface.........

 

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