Show: Quartet
Society: Richmond Theatre (professional)
Venue: Richmond Theatre
Credits: By Sir Ronald Harwood.
Type: Sardines
Author: Nigel Dams
Performance Date: 09/04/2018
Quartet
Nigel Dams | 11 Apr 2018 14:37pm
Ronald Harwood’s gentle four-hander comedy comes through Richmond Theatre this week as part of its UK tour featuring a stellar star cast of familiar faces to British audiences. Harwood’s other world-famous work The Dresser and Oscar-winning screenplay for 2002’s The Pianist both saw Quartet gain an international boost in popularity in 2012 when Dustin Hoffman directed the likes of Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon onscreen. However, under Peter Rowe’s subtle direction, the well-cast talents of Paul Nicholas (Wilfred), Jeff Rawle (Reginald), Wendi Peters (Cecily) and Sue Holderness (Jean), come together under Phil R Daniels and Charles Cusick-Smith’s sublime set and costume designs to deliver an intimate performance delighting audiences up and down the country.
In a Kent retirement home (popular with performers), celebrated ex-opera stars, Wilf, Reggie and Cecily are enjoying a resurgence in popularity during their twilight years thanks to a CD re-release of a famous past performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto. When the final member of their famous quartet (Reggie’s ex-wife) turns up as a new resident, the idea is mooted to rekindle their past glory at the annual retirement home concert held on Verdi’s birthday by way of a reprise.
All does not go according to plan when newcomer Jean – who hasn’t sung a note for forty years – flatly refuses to take part. However, unbeknown to Jean – and we the audience – the planned performance isn’t quite in the format as we think it’s going to be.
In a lovely ensemble piece, the foursome work well together although I found Wendi Peters physical interpretation of doddery old Cecily as a little contrived for someone so much younger than her onstage counterpart. Having said that, Peters’ portrayal of Cecily’s eccentricities are spot on. For me though Paul Nicholas is the big revelation as the slightly lecherous Wilf. It’s nice to see the actor taking on such a well-suited role and leaving behind those blonde comparisons from yesteryear such as Just Good Friends – no doubt his recent EastEnders storyline went some way to supporting the older more realistic look.
Experienced TV, film and theatre veteran, Jeff Rawle (younger readers will remember him as Cedric Diggory’s father, Amos, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) gives a brilliantly understated performance as Reggie the reliable backbone of the quartet, while Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses) makes probably the smallest leap as Jean, the most famous and well-maintained member of the eclectic foursome (that’s if you ignore Jean’s dodgy hip).
Harwood’s play won’t appeal to too many younger theatregoers but this production knows this. The regular touring target audiences of the provincial theatres are often of a certain age and, as such, Quartet offers an extremely pleasant and enjoyable evening out.
Quartet is at Richmond Theatre until Saturday, 14th April before continuing on tour.
- : admin
- : 09/04/2018