Feel-good show filled with youthful exuberance
By The Good Companions, by JB Priestley
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
until Saturday, November 21
By Rupert Bridgwater
Sue Wilson’s production of The Good Companions is like a glass of champagne: it’s bubbly, bright and lifts the spirit. And so did the original novel by JB Priestley when it was published in 1928. A down-at-heel nation took to the story of young love, adventure and dreams of stardom and made it an instant hit.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School stages Malcolm McKee’s musical adaptation to showcase the talents of their final year students and tomorrow’s theatre professionals. And like uncorked champagne the ensemble cast fizzed with enthusiasm. It’s a story of a group of actors who are looking for a new owner.
Jane Horn as the plain Jane Miss Trant discovers the troupe, grabs her central role and drives it with a whimsical exuberance and impeccable cut-glass vowels across the counties of an England that positively rings with regional accents.
We have a disgruntled Yorkshireman Mr Oakroyd played with a cloth-cappish-down-to-earthism by Roddy Peters, a Geordie theatre owner in Oliver Hoare grimly sweeping the stage, and a sour-puss Staffordshire tea lady (Alexandra Sorensen) whose scowl makes the bread and butter curl and the tea to brew on its own.
Tom Weston-Jones as aspiring songwriter Inigo Jollifant fills the stage with heroic optimism in his pursuit of the dazzling Susie Dean played with unlimited vivaciousness by coquettish Katie Moore.
Priestley’s social hinterland of England is spread across Sue Maye’s evocative map backdrop, bringing to life numerous pubs, railway stations and cafes, at the drop of a leather suitcase and the swish of a heavy overcoat. There is a whirl of costume changes and a ripping on and off of moustaches.
Here is Jessica Guise as Lady Partlit and there is Charlie Morotn as Nobby. At times confusing, at times extremely funny, as you detect a familiar shape in new clothes such as Heather Johnson as Big Annie — the uncompromising landlady, and Joseph Drake threatening to beat up the audience.
It was first night so we have the odd glitch, but this a show that will only get slicker. Pass that glass of champagne.
This is the first of the showcase productions of the school this academic year. Other shows include Dick Whittington in December; The Tempest in January, The Country Wife in February, and the Comedy of Errors in March.
The show, which opened on November 5, runs to Saturday, November21: 7.30pm Mat (Thurs & Sat) 2.30pm (no mat Thurs 5th). Tickets £13 (£9 concessions).
For more information: Tickets and information from 0117 973 3955, or visit www.oldvic.ac.uk.
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