IT’S not every day you have the chance to see a former Tory MP, dressed as a woman, singing and dancing in a musical comedy at one of the South of England’s premier provincial theatres.
But then Gyles Brandreth, ubiquitous and zany media all-rounder, wordsmith and orator, is no ordinary ex-politician.
And, it has to be said, this is no ordinary musical comedy. It’s a freshly-created rejig of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, one of our best known and most loved stage plays.
No doubt there will be many concerns about tinkering with this theatrical masterpiece in such a manner. But those Wilde fans who fear the worst can rest easy – this new production, sprinkled with dashes of music hall, Victorian parlour songs, jazz, ragtime and ballads, accompanied by a lively quartet in the orchestra pit, brings a wonderful new dimension to the plot, enhancing the original rather than cheapening it in any way.
Brandreth, looking uncannily like Queen Mary (the royal, not the ship), heads a multi-talented cast who slot perfectly into their respective roles, obviously revelling in the ridiculous fun of it all and enjoying themselves as greatly as the audience.
The action is set in the 1920s rather than the late Victorian period, a decision composers Adam McGuinness and Zia Moranne say was taken to enable a wider range of musical styles to be included.
Writer Douglas Livingstone has ensured ‘ as much as Wilde’s dialogue as possible’ is included in the lyrics. He says: “I wanted the songs to spring entirely from the plot of the play and always carry it forward, not be superimposed on it.”
Brandreth, of course, has the honour of reciting one of the most famous retorts in British theatre - “a handbag?” – which, in a duet with Bradley Clarkson as Jack Worthing is mentioned not once, but more than 20 times!
The singing is a joy. Claire Marlow as Gwendolen Fairfax and Daniel Boys as Algernon have particularly fine voices, but all of the cast excel in everything they are asked to do, with Flora Spencer-Longhurst as a delightful Cecily Cardew and Stefan Bednarczyk bringing a perfect dour note to the servant roles.
Musical highlight, however, is the mock coyness of It All Began In The Garden, cleverly performed by Louise Gold as Miss Prism, and stage veteran Edward Petheridge as Dr Chasuble, which has the audience in stitches.
A jaunty, jocular, little gem of an evening, expertly directed by Iqbal Kahn.
Very British, very Windsor - and very good. Oscar would have approved!
The Importance of Being Earnest is at The Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday July 7. Contact the box office on 01753 853888 or www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk .
