Easy Virtue

St John’s Players brought Noel Coward's classic play "Easy Virtue" to life in their performance at the Fulbourn Centre. A play set in 1925 and known for its witty dialogue and sharp social commentary was chosen to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Centre. They did the Centre proud.

The set for this production was impressive capturing a sitting room in a 1920’s wealthy household. On one side double doors to the outside, the other a door to wider house. Towards the back were double doors to a ballroom and even a staircase to another part of the house. Each exit had its own backing decoration, so all sight lines had been considered. The walls were covered floor to ceiling in rich art deco, green and gold wallpaper with wonderful gold details in the dado rails, around the door frames and skirting. The artwork on the ballroom door was impressive – the set design team must have had such fun with this set.

However, it is worth noting the occasional mishap with the ballroom door, which seemed to have a mind of its own. Despite this, the sound operation, managed by Moira Stephenson, was impeccable. Each time the door inadvertently opened in Act 3, muffled ballroom music seamlessly filled the air, proving that the sound team was vigilant and on point. This attention to detail enhanced the overall experience and maintained the immersive quality of the production.

The cast delivered sterling performances, each actor doing well to embody their character's complexities and idiosyncrasies.

Lucy Woodcock, who played the glamorous and enigmatic Larita, was particularly good. The American accent sometime slipped, but her portrayal was both nuanced and compelling, capturing the essence of a woman struggling against societal norms with grace and determination. Equally compelling was Rebecca Hawker as Mrs Whittaker, the mother of the household. She brought a finesse to the proceedings and rightly commanded the power of running the household. The other standout for me was Fay Childs’ portrayal of Sarah Hurst. The comic timing was spot on. I loved her rejection of the marriage proposal in Act 3.

The rest of the cast performed well, though a few key players struggled with the received pronunciation, resulting in occasional garbled lines and unnatural inflexions. Nevertheless, this minor flaw did not significantly detract from the plot's progression, which maintained a steady flow.  The comedic timing, a recognised part of Coward's works, elicited laughter from the audience in many of the right places, so all credit to the whole cast.

The costumes throughout were impressive, however, the visible white high top canvas shoes with what looked like a converse logo in Act 2 was a slight distraction in what was otherwise a wonderful display of vintage costumes. I understand that converse might have existing in the period but it looked out of place.

The direction by Martin Hunt and Claire Milner was commendable. As a three act play it could have tended to feel long, but the direction ensured the pace worked well and the staging was well thought through, utilising the small space well, with entrances and exits (especially in Act 3) very well-rehearsed to maintain the momentum that supported the action.

St Johns Players, Fulbourn's rendition of "Easy Virtue" was a success, showcasing the talents of both cast and crew. Well done to all involved.

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