The School For Scandal @ The New

School for Scandal1
Production photos by Matthias Engesser

Theatregoers venturing across to Newtown’s New Theatre are in for a treat with David Burrowes’ very hip, fast paced and entertaining revival  of Irish playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s classic eighteenth century comedy, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.

Sheridan’s world perhaps can best be described as a school of excess where most of its characters are living hedonistic lives and forever scheming to get their every whim and need met and people are simply objects that have to be moved out of the way.

Sheridan plays it for sharp satire and lots of laughs when another playwright might have woven a drama  out of the material.

Burrows’ has taken the play out of  its eighteenth century setting and radically brought it into the present day as the young people sniff cocaine, play the stockmarket and party hard.

The central plot device pivots around a very rich Uncle, Sir Oliver Surface, who has to decide how he will apportion his fortune. He has two nephews, Joseph and Charles Surface- yes all the characters names are a ‘play’ on their personalities- who he has in mind.

Realising the ‘climate’ of the times, Sir Oliver decides to go undercover to test their suitability for  financial benefit. Let’s just say, his strategy proves to be a very eye opening experience, and many farcical situations ensue.

David Burrowes wins good performances from a large cast- some fifteen actors- giving their everything to make this a fun night at the theatre.

Marty O’Neill and Richard Cotter do some great work as the two old blokes who are trying to keep the young people in line.

Jacob Warner and Rhys Keir play the two nephews with great comic comic skill as do Eleanor Stankiewicz and Madeleine Withington in playing  Lady Sneerwell and Lady Teazle. And who can forget Billie Scott as a very wriggly, devious Snake.

This colourful New Theatre production has just started, opening on the 30th April. There’s plenty of time to catch it with the season running until the 30th May. The New Theatre is located at 542 King Street, Newtown.