Lady Windermere’s Fan REVIEW (Continued).
Lady Windermere’s Fan also has some of the wittiest and insightful men folk of all Wilde plays. Nowhere is the verbal mischief more breathtaking than in Cecil Graham and Mr Dumby and they near steal the show in Act III. Mr Cecil Graham with his strong physicality, impatient movement and relentless teasing brought an added tension and savage wit to proceedings. Jim O Leary was splendid as the witty Cecil Graham. He was ably supported by Frank Poole as the deceptively alert and wise Mr Dumby, who with expert timing and his own brilliant observations, took the sting out of Mr Graham’s caustic commentary on the state of society. In this Act also, Lord Darlington who earlier pursued Lady Windermere, had by this stage accepted his fate and was in reflective mood which contrasted with the shallow banter of the others. Michael Hughes as Lord Darlington was refined and pleasing to watch as he switched emphasis from banter to pleading to acceptance without ever losing his Victorian poise and delivered some of the most memorable lines that Wilde has written, concluding wistfully that “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”.
The overall strength of the performances, stunning costumes and set and the accomplished drama touch of a Director who balanced both the surface “where all good qualities should be” and the darker core, were the ideal means to express all that is brilliant about Wilde. Heslin is increasingly nudging the boundaries and raising the bar for amateur drama with challenging productions. The result is quite exceptional from Navan Theatre Group - they are continually bringing new talent to the stage in productions that are a delight to watch. This was a memorable theatrical experience from a group managing all the challenges of amateur theatre and delivering a thoroughly professional production.
This was spectacularly beautiful theatre and charming entertainment.
The cast for Lady Windermere’s Fan included: Liam Ó Brádaigh, Ruth Collins, Michael Hughes, Bláithín Fitzgerald, Katy Leech, Nigel Ryan, Ciara O’Reilly, Joanne Donoghue, Frank Poole, Grainne Brady, Ciara Cassoni, Mick O’Keeffe, Robert Clarke, Máiréad Murray, Eimear Kearns, Damien Cleere, David Nelson, Denise McDermott, Des Lynch, Jim O’Leary, Nöelle Tobin.
Meath Chronicle
December 2009
