This latest version of The Rivals is one part Richard Brinsley Sheridan and his eighteenth-century social satire, one part P. G. Wodehouse and the Roaring Twenties, plus a dash of topical humour such as references to the television series Survivor. It is not a mocktail that will be to everyone's taste, but it is clearly a labour of love for director Tom Littler. This attempt to reimagine Sheridan’s comedy of manners and modernise its references frequently succeeds, yet it also produces some awkward moments. Elements such as the anachronism of a duel set in the 1920s or the unnecessary aside about nudity in a bathroom scene are jarring and forced. Indeed, too often, the drive to provoke laughter at any cost appears to dominate the production, resulting in moments that feel strained and tonally uneven. This approach undermines the original and intelligent concept of relocating Sheridan’s play to a period whose literature was often similarly dismissed as superficial but which was also sharply observant in its social criticism. The comic premise of Captain Jack Absolute (Kit Young) acting as his own rival for the affection of Lydia Languish (Zoe Brough) conceals Sheridan’s incisive examination of romantic notions, marital conventions, and social hierarchy. These are themes that resonate across generations and still ring true today. As Mrs Malaprop, Sheridan’s most enduring comic creation, Patricia Hodge gives a superb performance. She delivers some ingeniously difficult speeches with clarity, precision, and an ease that makes the language feel natural rather than laboured. Similarly impressive is Robert Bathurst as Sir Anthony Absolute, Jack’s overbearing father. Bathurst calibrates his indignation and pomposity with excellent comic judgment. This production is also enhanced by some elegant and imaginative costumes, which are among the evening’s highlights. While some may question whether The Rivals can ever be fully revived, or whether it remains inseparable from the period that produced it, others will find this a lively and imaginative renewal of the play. No matter which view one takes, the production stands as a thoughtful, confident, and theatrically assured reimagining of a classic.
Rated: ★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Ellie Kurttz
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