Review by Ross Brewster
Northanger Abbey, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Playful and energetic, this re-imagining of Jane Austen’s novel may not be to the satisfaction of those who don’t enjoy the modern theatrical trend to turn classics into racy tales.
But you will have to go far to find a cast of three so marvellously talented and versatile.
The production, which can be seen at the Theatre by the Lake until Friday, May 17, presents Austen in a way I didn’t expect. I’m still not sure, after reflecting on it, whether it’s my cup of tea.
It probably helps to know the original story, and even to have seen the more straightforward version of Northanger Abbey as performed at the lakeside theatre several years ago when part of a traditional three-play summer season.
But that’s not wholly necessary. The three actors skilfully play what could be a confusing myriad of roles, and against all the odds pull it off admirably.
There is a scene where a whole family is created with male and female actors doing the voices. The female actor plays the father in a deep voice, complete with pipe.
Rebecca Banatvala’s Cath strolls in the audience before the play gets seriously into its stride by looking back to the heroine’s birth, her mother played, naturally, by a male actor. It’s that sort of play and very soon you get into the potentially confusing gothic satire.
Cath leaves her northern home to mix with posher folk in Bath and hopefully find a young suitor with a castle. Banatvala fills her character with passion and the quest for self-determination in this coming-of-age story.
However AK Golding’s Iz sparks electricity between herself and Cath and there is a meeting of lips right at the end of the first half, just as the lights go down. Golding’s character is sparky and independent and sometimes poignant, an impressive combination.
Whether Jane Austen would have written a lesbian love affair in her books is doubtful, especially in their time. But it’s the frisson between Iz and Cath that sets the play alight.
Love was never meant to be idyllic or last forever. When Cath admits she could imagine herself loving a man, Iz snaps back tersely saying “she is a greedy girl who wants to eat all the cake”.
Sam Newton is the third member of the cast and he deftly switches characters, speaking his words at 100 miles per hour. In fact there do seem to be a lot of words in a pacey production with minimal props. Almost simultaneously Newton plays a character with gentlemanly charm and a rotter.
The cast extract humour from the script and Zoe Cooper’s adaptation is observant and funny in its treatment of sexuality, gender and friendship.
The stage floor and background are in bright pink, like some refuge from a Barbie film, and the minimal props are utilised creatively along with the lighting.
I had to give it all my concentration as the narrators changed and fresh characters appeared. Impressively energetic, I guess ultimately it’s about love and accepting who we are. At least that’s the message I got.
