Enchanted April

“Enchanted April” is an interesting play in that above all it tries to evoke a mood – as might be experienced in one of those fleeting but unforgettable moments that can never be recaptured or recreated, no matter how hard we might try.  Buscot House Theatre is a good venue in which to attempt to conjure up an elusive sense of perfect happiness; with our protagonists safely on the train to Italy, the audience is free to spend the interval wandering through the beautiful grounds of Buscot House, admiring the wisteria on a tranquil early summer’s evening, before returning to the theatre to see how the lives of Lotty, Rose and their friends are transformed by their time staying at the castle of San Salvatore.

Well, the impact of the change on location was felt immediately, as the dark heavy curtains of 1920s England were replaced by the bright sunny vistas of coastal Italy, complete with trailing, climbing plants and a gorgeous colour palette.  Costume changes and styling were used very effectively to breathe new life into our four women, as the warm Italian sunshine melts their frozen hearts, dissolves their differences and draws them ever closer together.  A time of enchantment indeed, and yet it doesn’t feel clichéd as San Salvatore has worked its magic on the audience as well, and we can simply share in this happy moment.

The Director certainly brought  the best out of her talented company.  The cast knew their lines thoroughly, shaping their phrases to convey meaning, and making intelligent use of body language to give insights into character.  Cues were well timed and conversations sounded natural; the challenging scene in which Rose and Lotty inform their husbands of their plans in parallel conversations was realised well.  The way in which the four women opened up to each other once in Italy was carefully considered and persuasively staged, with seemingly incompatible characters finding common cause.  The blocking needed to be good on such a compact stage and it was, with the seating at the castle used to illuminate shifting relationships.

This was an ambitious production in that it tried to summon up a special feeling in its audience: a life-affirming or even life-changing moment of happiness.  Such a moment feels different to each of us, but there was a sense of it in the air as the audience strolled back through the grounds to the car park.  My congratulations to everyone concerned.

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