The Rivals Revival: A Whimsical Christmas Treat
Tom Littler's production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 18th-century comedy is the perfect antidote to the dark days of winter, boasting an anarchic spirit, silliness, and a healthy dose of panto dame flair courtesy of Patricia Hodge as Mrs Malaprop. Set in 1920s Bath, this heady revival transposes the original's upper-class antics into a more modern setting, with PG Wodehouse elements woven throughout.
The story centers around Jack Absolute (Kit Young), who parades as Sergeant Beverley to woo Lydia Languish (Zoe Brough), while "Faulty" Faulkland (James Sheldon) struggles with his neuroses and Julia (Boadicea Ricketts). The cast is able-bodied, with Young bringing joy with his physicality and speed. Meanwhile, Hodge's Mrs Malaprop is a comedic highlight, delivering malapropisms with breezy ease.
The production is a masterclass in coordination, with Leah Harris's movement direction paired with Anett Black and Neil Irish's exuberant set design. The show's romances are a hoot, with Jack's father, Sir Anthony Absolute (Robert Bathurst), reinstating old-school order to bring things back down to earth.
While the humor remains playful and unserrated around the edges, this is not quite champagne - lacking that hard, sharp kick of satire that Sheridan brought to his original work. The pacing falters occasionally, but it's an easy play to sit through, with plenty of pleasant moments to go around. Overall, this stylishly silly revival is a treat for Christmas, bringing the house down with its whimsical japes and frothy fun.
Tom Littler's production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 18th-century comedy is the perfect antidote to the dark days of winter, boasting an anarchic spirit, silliness, and a healthy dose of panto dame flair courtesy of Patricia Hodge as Mrs Malaprop. Set in 1920s Bath, this heady revival transposes the original's upper-class antics into a more modern setting, with PG Wodehouse elements woven throughout.
The story centers around Jack Absolute (Kit Young), who parades as Sergeant Beverley to woo Lydia Languish (Zoe Brough), while "Faulty" Faulkland (James Sheldon) struggles with his neuroses and Julia (Boadicea Ricketts). The cast is able-bodied, with Young bringing joy with his physicality and speed. Meanwhile, Hodge's Mrs Malaprop is a comedic highlight, delivering malapropisms with breezy ease.
The production is a masterclass in coordination, with Leah Harris's movement direction paired with Anett Black and Neil Irish's exuberant set design. The show's romances are a hoot, with Jack's father, Sir Anthony Absolute (Robert Bathurst), reinstating old-school order to bring things back down to earth.
While the humor remains playful and unserrated around the edges, this is not quite champagne - lacking that hard, sharp kick of satire that Sheridan brought to his original work. The pacing falters occasionally, but it's an easy play to sit through, with plenty of pleasant moments to go around. Overall, this stylishly silly revival is a treat for Christmas, bringing the house down with its whimsical japes and frothy fun.
The humor's all just so fluffy and polite, you know? It's like they're trying to be all family-friendly and stuff, but where's the edge? Where's the bite? 
I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but... actually, yeah, I am saying that. The pacing does feel a bit wonky at times, and I'm not sure about that Mr. Wodehouse vibe being woven in too much... is that what you want from comedy, though? Maybe I'm just having a grumpy Christmas spirit 
.
and I gotta say, it's like a big ol' warm hug on stage! Patricia Hodge is absolutely hilarious as Mrs Malaprop 
and Kit Young's physical comedy is on point 
. The set design is so colorful and fun, I loved how they incorporated all those panto dame elements 
. My only gripe is that it felt a bit like a lighter version of the original play - where's the edge? Still, for a Christmas treat, this is perfect 
. patricia hodge as mrs malaprop is literally the icing on the cake, she's always been so talented and funny 
. yeah, maybe it doesn't have that sharp edge of satire like the original, but sometimes you just need a lighthearted, feel-good show to get us through the tough times 
. anyway, sounds like they've done an amazing job with this production and i'm def gonna check it out!
Patricia Hodge as Mrs Malaprop is pure comedy gold, her malapropisms had me giggling out loud 
. The set design and movement direction were also super impressive, it's clear they put a lot of love into creating an immersive experience. My only slight criticism is that the humor can be a bit too lighthearted at times, but overall this show is a perfect Christmas treat to brighten up your holiday season 
. Now, I do think they missed out on a bit of that sharp satire from the original, but who cares, it's still a laugh 
! But honestly, if you're looking for something with a bit more edge, this might not be the show for you 
.
Still, I guess if you just want some feel-good theatre with a dash of slapstick, this is the ticket. Just don't expect too much in the way of substance 
, I mean who doesn't love a good malapropism? And Kit Young's physicality in the lead role is literally making me swoon 
. The set design and movement direction sound like they're straight out of a fairy tale! 
I mean, have you seen the box office numbers for this production? They're through the roof! The show has broken records at the West End, selling out every night 
It's a Christmas miracle for theater lovers in London! But did you know that Patricia Hodge is still going strong after all these years? She's been acting since 1974 and this production marks her 5th revival of Malaprop 
. The actors did a great job, especially Kit Young as Jack Absolute, he brought so much energy to that role. The only thing I didn't love was the pacing, it felt a bit slow at times, but overall it was still super enjoyable and perfect for Christmas