WhilE The Rivals is one of those well-known, much-performed 'English' comedies, and its character of Mrs Malaprop even more well-known, I confess that I hadn't seen the play until this week.
Set in 18th Century Bath and written there more than 200 years ago, the play is about the efforts of Mrs Malaprop to get her wayward, romantic niece a suitable husband.
It's a wonderful period romp, full of confused identity, ludicrous deceptions, unbelievable and farcical situations and yet witty, satirical and, for all its period setting and polite 18th Century language, surprisingly modern in feel.
The wonderful Mrs Malaprop (Stephanie Cole, left), whose apt misuse of long words and social pretentions brought to mind Patricia Routledge's Hyacinth Bucket.
The sauve, too-clever-by-half Captain Jack Absolute had, for me, undertones of Blackadder while his non-too-bright friends, Faulkland and Acres, had something of Lord Percy in their well-meaning ineptness.
It was wonderfully funny and the characters wonderfully played. I particularly enjoyed Nicholas Boulton as Jack Absolute, handsomely caddish and believable as the object of romantic Lydia's affections.
Sheridan's comedy of manners, courtship, elopement and duelling is a treat. It is on at Malvern Theatres tonight (Friday) and tomorrow. For tickets, call the box office on 01684 892277.
Sue Vickers
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