The Enchanted April

The Enchanted April is an adaptation of the 1922 novel by British writer Elizabeth von Arnim. The work was inspired by a month-long holiday to the Italian Riviera.

The novel follows four unhappy and dissimilar women who leave their rainy, grey environment to go on holiday to a castle in Italy.

Lotty is the catalyst. Although she is trapped in a marriage to a mean, selfish husband; she is determined to find happiness and badgers her new friend Rose into jointly renting the castle. Diane Mayall gave Lotty Wilkins such lovely enthusiasm, whilst also signalling the character’s awkwardness and meekness before her mean, selfish husband, Mellersh. He is played with great realism by Neil Mayall; and his thawing out and character change in Italy is very nicely paced, becoming more gentle and generous…but  still keeping an eye out for a profit.

Rose Arbuthnot is another complex, damaged character, well acted by Jane Khan. She is grieving for a dead child and has devoted herself to good works. She can no longer relate to her husband, Frederick, a man-about-town who writes racy novels. Kevin Hogg portrays him as affectionate but self-interested. Rose’s slow relaxation and burgeoning happiness enables them to grow together again.

Jane Seymour is Mrs Fisher, one of the two ladies who had answered an advertisement to share the castle. Pompous, domineering and incessantly name-dropping long past acquaintances; she is delightfully portrayed…almost a Lewis Carroll caricature. But she, too, comes to bloom naturally in the

Italian sunshine. Dee Coutts is Lady Caroline Dester, the fourth member of the party. She has lost a lover in the Great War and is dissatisfied with her shallow, entitled lifestyle. Dee beautifully captures this character and her need for solitude, slightly waspish and ready to cross swords with Mrs Fisher.

Mr Briggs, the castle’s owner, is well played by Stephen Tickell. He is a lonely man who sees something in Rose and follows the ladies to Italy. He is disappointed, but finds the possibility of romance with Caroline.

Linda Slater and David Ames are a delight as the servants, Francesca and Domenico. Linda is the perfect Nonna and David is the weary man-of-all-work.

ALL of the acting was of a high standard. The voice-overs were particularly well done. They gracefully illuminated each character without any artificiality.

Movement was also smooth and natural. There was lovely use of the stage in ACT I for so many purposes: a women’s club, Lotty and Rose & Mr Briggs’ homes, a cross-channel steamer and train carriage. But all were drab and cheerless. I desperately wanted a holiday in the sun. And then…the magnificent set for ACT II: a beautiful sun-drenched terrace, cleverly arranged to permit different “rooms” for the characters to explore their privacy.

Props were excellent and used realistically and with no selfconsciousness. Lighting was very good and atmospheric. Sound effects and music were lovely. Costumes were excellent, especially the ladies’ outfits, and they beautifully represented the period and different statuses. But why doesn’t Stephen ever wear a tie ?

This play tugs shamelessly at the sensations and emotions. But there was nothing false about the characters’ development. Jane Hogg and her team have created a superb production.

© NODA All rights reserved

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.