Comedy: The School for Scandal

Date: August 30th, 2009 Author: Martin Walker
Category(s): Comedy: The School for Scandal
Comments: 0

Comedy
****
The School for Scandal
Pleasance Courtyard

Ada Dyas, William ‘Gentleman’ Smith, and Sir John Gielgud are supplanted by the likes of Bridget Christie, Miss Behave, Marcus Brigstocke, Paul Foot, Phil Nicol, Stephen K Amos and (my God) Lionel Blair, in this updated comedy of manners.

First performed in London at the Drury Lane Theatre in May 1777, The School for Scandal was conceived as a farcical crowd-pleaser, and this version certainly remains true to that ethic.

The plot really isn’t important.  Indeed, those not familiar with Sheridan’s comedy will find parts of this version incomprehensible.  The delight of seeing the biggest names of the fringe constantly trying to upstage each other surely outweighs any such minor concerns.  This is pantomime.

Lionel Blair’s Sir Peter Teazle, playing opposite Bridget Christie’s Lady Teazle, is a perfect comic match that only the Edinburgh fringe could produce.  Indeed, the cast are all excellent.  Paul Foot (“I don’t know why everyone’s laughing; I’m trying to do acting”), Stephen K Amos (“This is equal opportunities casting darlings”) and Miss Behave produce great comic turns.

It adds up to ninety minutes of escapist fun that’s impossible not to enjoy.

MW