CurtainUp
CurtainUp

The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
www.curtainup.com


HOME PAGE

SITE GUIDE

SEARCH

REVIEWS

REVIEW ARCHIVES

ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

NYC Restaurants

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

TKTS

PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us

A CurtainUp London London Review
The Vortex



One gets carried away by glamour, and personality, and magnetism - they're such beastly treacherous things—Bunty
The Vortex
Dan Stevens as Nicky and Felicity Kendall as Florence
(Photo: Nobby Clark)
Noel Coward's The Vortex contains a strange mixture of tragedy and comedy, superficiality and depth. In tandem with the social glitz and glamour, there is a nether current of pain, loneliness and drug abuse. Peter Hall's production starring Felicity Kendal fittingly presents just such another juxtaposition: the elegance and wit of 1920s high society onstage is somewhat forcibly in contrast with the general air of decrepit senectitude in the auditorium. This is unfortunate, as this classic production of a classic play shouldn't just appeal to the audience demographic who is loyal to the memory of The Good Life.

Nevertheless, Kendal is justifiably one of the main attractions of this production. Her Florence Lancaster is a flamboyant socialite who, in spite of her vanity and absolute egocentric outlook, is quite charming. Played charismatically and arrayed in a series of dashing outfits, it is understandable why she is unfailingly the centre of attention. There are also some fine comic expressions of her narcissism, such as when, in fit of violent weeping, she catches a glimpse of herself in mirror and pauses to powder nose. As a woman refusing to acknowledge, let alone act, her own age, the incredibly well-preserved Felicity Kendal is cast with exactitude. However, this does sacrifice Florence's edge of overt desperation, as she actually can get away with looking a lot younger than her age, especially in the play's pre-Botox era.

Dan Stevens is excellent as the charming, slightly camp Nicky: Florence's nervy, spoilt son who has always had "everything he wants but never what he needs". Stevens plays Nicky with unexpected restraint which cleverly circumvents the obvious melodrama and makes his character's tragic impasse all the more affecting. Convincingly styled on Noel Coward himself, Stevens manages to encapsulate all the decadence and epicurean pleasure of the era but also the aching pain beneath. With an utterly lovable but adulterous and culpable mother, he is suffocated by the superficiality of his society and existence. As he exclaims: "the machinery of our lives will go on and gloss over the truth as it always does".

The rest of the cast, presenting a snapshot view of society, all evince strong performances as you would expect from a Peter Hall production. Particularly good is Phoebe Nicholls as the clear-sighted and sympathetic Helen who, as a true friend to Florence and Nicky, is the only person willing to tell them the unpalatable truth. She is a far cry from the twittering manners and hyperbolical politeness of the rest of society, including the catty remarks of Barry Stanton's Pauncefort Quentin and the odd, hammed-up hanger-on Clara Hibbert (Annette Badland).

Nicky's fiancée Bunty Mainwaring (Cressida Trew) and the object of Florence's infatuation Tom Veryan (Daniel Pirrie) are played with a nice symmetry and mutual sympathy. They are clearly two people of the same ilk, attracted to but ultimately repelled by the creatures of instability and brilliance: Florence and Nicky.

Compared to the spate of recent productions, this is possibly the most traditionalistic of Vortex revivals. With direction which focuses on clear, lucid performances, there is little innovative interpretation. Similarly conventional, the design by Alison Chitty features the habitual, luxurious space of the wealthy family with polished wooden surfaces and uncluttered rooms. Although open to criticism as too staid and unadventurous, this traditionalism does make the modernity of the play's themes all the more striking. By reinforcing the old-fashioned atmosphere, the drug-abuse, adultery and hints of homosexuality are reinvested with some of their 1920s shock value, which would not necessarily be felt by a 21st century audience.

THE VORTEX
Written by Noel Coward
Directed by Peter Hall

Starring: Felicity Kendal, Dan Stevens
With: Vivien Keene, Phoebe Nicholls, Barry Stanton, Annette Badland, Daniel Pirrie, Paul Ridley, Cressida Trew, Timothy Speyer
Design: Alison Chitty
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Sound Design: Gregory Clarke
Music Score: Mick Sands
Movement: Laila Diallo
Running time: Two hours with two intervals
Box Office: 0870 040 0080
Booking to 7th June 2008
Reviewed by Charlotte Loveridge based on 28th February 2008 performance at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 4ES (Tube: Piccadilly Circus)

London Theatre Tickets
Lion King Tickets
Billy Elliot Tickets
Mighty Boosh Tickets
Mamma Mia Tickets
We Will Rock You Tickets
Theatre Tickets
Google
 
Web    
www.curtainup.com
London Theatre Walks


Peter Ackroyd's  History of London: The Biography



London Sketchbook



tales from shakespeare
Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
Click image to buy.
Our Review


©Copyright 2008,

GUCCI

|

Aluminium Chronograph

|

PEAK new fashion ladies venting air spring heighten casual sport shoes P8004E

|

Tiffany & Co Hook and Eye Ring

|

mbt shoes

|

MBT Shoes

|

Tiffany&Co Daisy 925 sterling silver rings

|

Rolex

|

Louis Vuitton

|

Affliction Boots

|

Nike Shoes

|

Nike Dunk

|

MP5 Wholesale

|

Atlanta Falcons

|

Abercrombie Pants Wholesale 002

|

Louis Vuitton

|

UGG Boots Mulberry Genuine Australia classic Tall Ugg Boots

|

GUCCI Handbags

|

UGG Boots Classic Argyle Knit Chocolate 5879

|

Louis Vuitton Business Card Holder Ebony

|

MBT Men's Kisumu Tan Sandals

|

MBT Chapa

|

ugg boots

|

MBT Kisumu 2 White Men's Sandals

|

Nike Shoes

|

Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Messenger Bag PM m95865

|

Bailey Button Uggs

|

Sexy Costume QS0169

|

Phone Wholesale

|

Bikinis Sets

|

Wholesale

|

Car DVD Player

|

LV

|

Tourbillon

|

Tiffany tiffany replica ring

|

Superleggera J12 White

|

Tiffany

|

rolex

|

Mouse Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max 2003

|

Monogram Groom

|

GUCCI

|

Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max LTD (dark blue/white) No.372340

Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com