An Evening with Stoppard and Fitzgerald

An Evening with Stoppard and Fitzgerald

Written by Tom Stoppard and F Scott Fitzgerald

Performed by Exeter Drama Company at Tedburn Village Hall

On 25th September 2024

Directed by Liz and Jack Harding

Act one was that of Porcelain and Pink by F Scott Fitzgerald. A one-act play in which mistaken identity is the theme along with the irritation of sisterly love or perhaps, in this case, sisterly interference, set in the 1920’s.

The curtains opened and we are greeted with a sparsely set stage consisting of a porcelain bath positioned centre stage, with blue curtained paneling, a plain Cyclorama, 3 plain flats either side, a small table, coffee table and sofa with the central character of Julie Marvis sat in the bath, singing, presumably naked, as only her head and throat were visible with a suggestion of a shoulder.  Perfectly cast, this actor controlled the conversations between herself, her sister, Lois Marvis and Lois’ young man with good comic timing and lovely clear diction, all from a bath tub. She is antagonistic with her sister, Lois, who banters brilliantly with Julie, which is quite charming even though Julie infuriates her. Refusing to get out of the bath, Julie states ‘Can't be hurried. This is my kingdom at present, Godliness’.

Both actors worked well with the script, discussing the young man (Mr Calkins) whom their mother detests as he has just been newly divorced. Lois’  is scandalized when she discovers Julie has walked to the bathroom, naked, with no towel or kimono ‘haven’t you any pride or self-respect’ to which Julie replies, in part, ‘I really am rather cute in my natural state’. Hence the title of the play.

The actor playing Calkin is tall and handsome in a double-breasted suit and hair greased back in 1920’s style. He has a strong stage presence and is very easy to watch. Entering from the auditorium and on to stage left, he begins to talk to who he believes is Lois, through the bathroom window when it is really Julie. Realising he has mistaken her for Lois, Julie is terribly naughty and leads him on pretending to be her more ‘prim and proper’ sister.

All three actors held the audience attention throughout as the delightful mistake unravels with Calkin becoming increasingly confused with the conversation ‘You certainly are hard to keep up
with, one day you're awfully pleasant and the next you're in a mood’ until Lois walks in, shrieks and faints seeing him at the window. And the funniest laugh came when Calkins, realising Lois has fainted, says ‘I’ll be right in’, as Julie says ‘in that case, I’ll be right out’ gingerly placing her hands on the bath’ as the lights go out! Very entertaining and lots of fun.

Throughout the interval, as the audience mingled some were greeted by Mr Moon and Mr Birdboot, in character, who we later discover are the two theatre critics from The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard. Having never seen this play before it took a great deal of concentration from the audience and myself to understand such a complex plot. To simplify it, Stoppard writes a parody of the perfect murder mystery but with reality becoming embroiled in fantasy. A play within a play, as such, where the narratives conjoin and you cannot tell which is fact or fiction.

The first act begins with the Moon and Birdboot watching a murder mystery at Muldoon Manor but are far more interested in discussing their own lives.  Moon’s deep insecurity pertaining to his colleague Higgs, a more superior critic, referred to only throughout the play until the very end and Birdboot’s infidelities with a number of actresses, two of which are in the play they are watching. These two actors worked their dialogue well together, conversational and believable throughout, and both with differing personalities, complimenting the characterisation of their individual part.

The drawing room of Lady Muldoon is set with a central chaise longue, two seats to the side of the stage, a stand-alone radio set of the time, a lovely vintage telephone, a table with flowers, a small stool and a coffee table in front of which is a body!  The farce begins with Mrs Drudge, played by a fine actor with perfect comic timing and a sublime Essex accent, cleaning with her feather duster, answering the phone and telling the audience the plot via the conversation she is having over the phone simultaneously ignoring the body in plain view on the carpet, centre stage. A radio announcer using a perfect BBC accent, enters advising listeners of a dangerous madman in the area.

Simon Gascoyne, the philandering cad who is involved in affairs with both Lady Cynthia Muldoon and Felicity Cunningham, was nicely slimy and a natural comic. I loved the scene where he shakes Cynthia vigorously, completely over the top but right for this farce. Lady Cynthia is played by an experienced actor, naturally poised yet confused when Birdboot becomes part of the stage play. In complete contrast we meet the bouncy, young Felicity, who was perfectly dramatic with each line she delivered and very watchable. Major Magnus Muldoon, masterly moved around the set in a wheelchair and with ‘Foirfe’ Scottish accent. This actor, sporting a magnificent moustache and beard and dressed in pyjamas and waistcoat, gave an hilarious performance and had the audience in stitches with every funny line. Inspector Hound arrives, played cunningly well by this actor, discovers the obvious body confusing everyone even further.

Exeter Drama Company always dress their actors well and this was the case for both plays with beautiful bias-cut dresses for Lady Muldoon, Mrs Drudge in her ‘pinny’, Hound’s deer stalker hat and trench-coat and Felicity’s tennis outfit, to mention a few.

Now, Major Muldoon turns out to be Puckeridge, the third-in -line critic behind Higgs and Moon. He has set up this play for the purpose of killing off both Higgs and Moon. The body on the floor turns out to have been Higgs all along and Moon is shot by Magnus/Puckeridge at the end. In my humble opinion, this play is where Agatha Christie meets The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery and some.  Cleverly acted and produced by the cast and directing team.

As this was a movable production being performed in two different locations therefore the lighting and staging had to be creatively thought out, which was the case here. Minimal scenery and lighting changes in Porcelain and Pink worked and the stage props for The Real Inspector Hound were clearly enough, as were the lighting cues.  

I congratulate you, as a company, for producing theatre productions for all, whether it be village halls, churches or theatre spaces. It is very rare to see, sadly, but greatly appreciated by your audiences.  You also provide quality productions, such as these, at very sensible cost thus allowing theatre to be experienced by the many.

Lyn Burgoyne (Noda Representative – District 5, Mid and East Devon)

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