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Thérèse Raquin |
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Neath Little Theatre |
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The Theatre, Westernmoor Road, Neath |
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November 24, 2004 |
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| Following a string of enormously successful populist comedies, the players of Neath Little Theatre have chosen a somewhat downbeat way to end their 2004 season with a classic work from the 19th century author and playwright Emile Zola. Paul Rees is an intelligent director who has risen to the challenge of telling a complex psychological drama in an absorbing manner, punctuated here and there with some deliciously dry humour and imbued with a brooding, underlying sense of impending menace by subdued lighting and a set which gives the piece the look of a period painting. The seven-strong cast are excellent, with the opening scenes enlivened by a humorous performance from Jonathan Morgan - looking like Eric Idle and sounding like Bertie Wooster - as Camille, with the delightful Debra Lewis making a welcome return to the NLT stage after a lengthy break and breathing life into the title character with a terrific portrayal of a deeply troubled woman with a dark secret. There are also fine contributions from Lee Edwards - perhaps slightly miscast as Laurent but nevertheless making a good fist in the role - plus Donna McOnie as Madame Raquin, David McOnie as Michaud, Rhiannon Phillips as Suzanne and especially Ralph Williams, who is splendidly cast as Grivet - a character whose dry and acerbic wit is conveyed brilliantly. Ultimately, however, this was a curious choice of production in the run-up to Christmas - obviously in the wake of so many comedies it was obvious that NLT had to offer something meatier this time around but boy, this is grim stuff, with an ending so depressing that someone sitting behind me was heard to mutter, "And they all lived happily ever after." I couldn't have put it better myself. |
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| Graham Williams | |
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