REVIEW – ARCADIA by TOM STOPPARD

Performed by 3rd Year Acting Students of
The University of Central Lancashire

St Peter's Arts Centre, Preston
Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 March 2006

"Pigeons, sex, literature ..."
A fine production of a masterpiece

Mateusz McGuirk in Arcadia

Tom Stoppard's Arcadia of 1993 is a serious, important and glorious play, but should not be taken on by the faint hearted. The very thought of mounting a production of this sharp, witty and diverse masterpiece made me nervous; it demands more than competent acting, assured direction and a clear vision of what the playwright is getting at.

And what is that, I hear you ask? Well, where to start? It is at once a murder mystery play, an exercise in academic research and discovery, a domestic comedy and a love story. Or several love – and lust – stories. Oh, and there's a tortoise called Lightning, much advanced mathematics, details of the cull of the gun sports, debates about why Byron had to leave England (we now know and it wasn't family audience material). Throw in a handful of oddball semi-aristo family eccentrics and you get the picture ...

Confused? Don't be. With the benefit of director Dean Taylor's sharp mind, clear eye and vivid imagination, the cast of ten (eleven if you include the tortoise) completely dispelled my fears and gave audiences a visual, audible and emotional treat last week at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)'s fine St Peter's Arts Centre. A converted Victoria church, it is a versatile and enviable venue despite its odd acoustics.

Katey Siddall and David Tynan

Minor first night niggles aside, the performances were beautifully measured, with Mateusz McGuirk's enigmatic academic Septimus Hodge, the deliciously ert and lissom Helen Brame and Anna Whelan as coquettes Lady Croom and Chloe Coverly, David Tynan as a domineering but never quite likeable Bernard Nightingale and Neil Proctor as the wonderfully underplayed Ezra Chater, Gus and Augustus Coverly.

Katey Siddall, who also worked very efficiently on the all-important PR and press side (unlike some theatres and groups I could name), also turned in a fine performance as the indomitable Hannah Jarvis. The other smaller parts (not least the mostly continent reptile), along with the costume and crew, highlighted the close-knit teamwork that ensured a seamless delivered, thoroughly convincing production.

When it comes to student productions, don't ever turn your nose up. There is so much excellent theatre going on in our local universities and colleges that is of a very high standard indeed, as witnessed in my recent remarks about St Martin's College. Before you ask, Lancaster University's Theatre Group will be featured next term ...

And all their work at all three institutions is nearly always worth the trip, not least because it is a joy to see young people work so hard to earn themselves a place in a profession that is perhaps more difficult today than ever before to get established in.

This was a fizzing, exciting and strong evening's entertainment. Congratulations to all concerned for putting together a first class production.

Copyright © 21 March 2006 Michael Nunn. All photos © Katey Siddall

Postscript:
There are further goodies coming up from UCLAN. Details are as follows (all shows at St Peter's Arts Centre unless otherwise stated):

• A production of Dickens' Great Expectations from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 8 April at 7.30pm.

• The Graduate Showcase Event at The Lowry Studio, Manchester on Wed 26 April at 1pm and 7pm; also at St Peter's Arts Centre, Preston, on Thursday 27 April at 7pm.

Some useful web links:

• A good critique of Stoppard's work at Complete Review, a Literary Saloon and Site of Review.

Some international reviews of Arcadia:
• The Complete Review: Arcadia
An intelligent and comprehensive review of the first production of Arcadia

• Head-scratching in Stoppard's Arcadia: There is no one like Stoppard for making you feel both spoilt and inadequate as an audience
by Michael Coveney, Sunday April 18, 1993 - The Observer

• Playing the Trump Card: a polemic on freedom of speech by Stoppard