The Browning Version and Swansong at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
IT SEEMED a little strange to be faced with two plays, with seemingly the only link being a reverential mention of the classic work Agamemnon.
But work it did as it turned out to be a chance for Peter Bowles to show versatility and stamina.
Chekhov's 'mini-play' Swansong (all 20 minutes of it) sees an ageing and drunk actor locked in an empty dark theatre, who analyses his career, moving from exuberance to despair.
Bowles took his chance to reveal control over the range of emotions needed, feeding off James Laurenson as the prompter who is woken from his sleep in the theatre.
This intriguing and delightful hors d'oeuvre led to The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan.
Many will have seen either the 1951 film or a previous stage version as this is a favourite chestnut for many theatre companies.
But director Peter Hall has brought out the humour of Rattigan's piece perfectly, giving it a much more satisfying feel.
Bowles as the cuckolded husband Andrew Crocker-Harris whose manners and respect for others is treated as weakness is again superb.
In fact, the whole cast dovetails well, especially Candida Gubbins as 'Crock's' wife.
The Browning Version definitely belongs to an England of public schools and rigid etiquette, but this version spans the gap from the late 1940s to the 21st century by using an old trick - excellent acting.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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