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Lady Anna: All at Sea
Malvern Theatres
**** THIS cleverly
constructed play merges Anthony Trollope’s popular novel Lady Anna and
the author’s real-life experiences while writing the story on-board a
ship bound for Australia. For those wanting a gentle, light, traditional
costume drama with no surprises, it’s a well-produced, slick affair with
a strong cast of actors. For me, however, this story hasn’t really stood
the test of time as the controversy of a lady marrying a working-class
hero feels very dated and staid. First published in 1874, Lady Anna has the usual
Trollope plot lines of a will being contested, snobbery over social
class and a conflict between the leading lady’s duty to her mother and
status over the man she loves. The small cast swap between parts swiftly,
showing off their talents, and the idea of a play within a play is
intriguing and well executed by Craig Baxter, who was commissioned to
adapt this to stage by the Trollope Society for the Trollope
Bicentennial. While the Lady Anna storyline now seems
predictable and sedate, it’s Trollope’s escapades in the play that
provide a little more excitement and humour. For those who don’t know,
Trollope wrote Lady Anna entirely at sea while making the long trip to
Australia with his wife Rose to visit their son. Jonathan Keeble, playing Trollope (as well as Sir
William Patterson and Thomas Thwaite), is excellent as a sturdy,
likeable lead despite all Trollope’s pompousness. Maggie O’Brien as Lady Anna’s haughty, misguided
mother is suitably disdainful while the younger members of the cast are
an engaging trio for a love triangle. While there’s lots to praise about the way this
play has been put together from The Production Exchange, the material
doesn’t spark anything fresh or exciting. Instead, it’s a comforting,
gentle and well-acted period drama that will particularly please
Trollope fans. To 01-10-16 Alison Brinkworth 26-09-16
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