Review: Bolton Little Theatre - Relative Values

Taken from the Bolton News, Monday 13th September 2010

Relative Values Bolton Little Theatre Until September 18 Tickets: 01204 334400

Natalie Compton and Stephen Stubbs as Miranda and Don Lucas
Picture curtsey of Steve Gill at smileweddings.co.uk

RELATIVE Values is in many ways its own toughest critic.

There’s a hint of the post modern when the butler, Mr Crestwell - played deftly by Michael Tatman - turns to glance beyond the fourth wall and utters the line: “a comedy of manners quickly becomes obsolete when there are no longer any manners.”

Noel Coward, mate - you don’t know you were born. If you thought English society was on the decline in 1950, try a night out in Stalybridge in 2010.

Anyway, the dialogue, so steeped as it is in manners and class division, can sound a little alien to modern ears - but don’t let that put you off.

The Bolton Little Theatre audience is clearly one of taste, refinement and manners, as this discerning crowd revels in the urbane witticisms that are the stock-in-trade of the genre.

Typically, much of Relative Values’ action is based upon an implausible contrivance involving someone pretending to be someone else, and much hilarity ensues - guffaw, guffaw - and we all learn a nice lesson about social inequality and culture clashes in the process.

The acting is universally superb; the cast of nine command the stage, which is beautifully decorated in the style of a 1950s English manorhouse living room, and there’s not a moment wasted - every glance, every intonation is spot on.

Natalie Crompton, making her BLT debut, nails the offhand insensitivity of her movie star character without losing her warmth or humour, and June Grice is the definition of composure as the unflappable Countess of Marshwood.

In fact, all Relative Values’ characters are so likeable, it’s difficult to know who to cheer for.

Suffice to say it’s a play that’s well worth a look - but don’t forget your manners.

Review by Julian Thorpe

Next at Bolton Little Theatre

Relative Values
by Noel Coward
Saturday 11th to Saturday 18th September

Relative Values is sparkling fun from the Master of light comedy, Noel Coward. The comedy was recently revived at Chichester Festival Theatre with Susan Hampshire and Sarah Brightman, and even more recently filmed starring Julie Andrews and Stephen Fry.

Relative Values

The comedy takes place at Marshwood House, Kent, in 1951, and consternation reigns as Nigel, the eligible Earl of Marshwood, announces his engagement to Miranda Frayle, the latest Hollywood heart-throb, or to quote the household of Marshwood House, “a painted floozie”. Nigel’s mother takes the news with a stiff upper lip, but privately she’s appalled to hear her son and heir is to marry, of all things, a Hollywood actress! The fun and chaos continues with surprise revelations, surprise visitors from Hollywood, and perhaps not so surprising, a happy ending. It is all light-hearted fun with a top-notch cast to match.

June Grice leads as Felicity, the Countess of Marshwood, with Jennifer Lee, Natalie Crompton, Carol Butler, Sara Collinson, Michael Tatman, Phil Lunt, Stephen Stubbs, and Ben Latham giving strong support.

Stunning period costumes have been designed and created by Lorraine and Viv Parry, a suitable aristocratic setting by the Stage Team, and David Lodmore is lighting the show.

Tickets are now available from the Bolton Albert Halls Ticket Office.

The play was to be directed by Audrey Lias, who, together with Renee Caine, completed extensive preparation before her illness. All this work has been incorporated into the production, and Audrey hopes to be with us at the show.