Stage Dragon: A Room With A View At The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 3 Nov, 2016
Updated on: 3 Nov, 2016

By Ferenc Hepp

We are transported back to the Edwardian era this week at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre with the help of the classic 1908 novel by E. M. Forster, A Room With A View.

This is an adaptation by Simon Reade, produced by Act Productions and Theatre Royal Bath Productions, and part of a tour which started in Bath and will arrive in Chichester later this month.

Felicity Kendall in A Room With A View. Picture by Nobby Clarke.

For those not familiar with the plot, the story focuses on Lucy Honeychurch (Lauren Coe), a young upper middle class English woman who visits Florence where she is looked after by her older cousin, Charlotte Bartlett (Felicity Kendal).

Her visit brings her into contact with several other British tourists of a similar class, including the Emersons and she is rescued by George Emerson (Tom Morley) after she witnesses a fight while walking the streets alone.

Lucy accepts a marriage proposal from a very snobbish Cecil Vyse (Charlie Anson) who she met in Rome, but when she gets back home to Surrey, she realises that Mr Vyse is not the man for her and having been persuaded by George’s father Mr Emerson (Jeff Rawle) she ends up marrying George. They then end up staying in the same pension in Florence where the play opened, in a ‘room with a view’.

The set is very much like a painting all the way through, with the stage ‘framed’ by dark wood and drapes, the lighting is atmospheric and works well; credit is due to the designer, Paul Wills and the lighting designer, Tim Mitchell.

However, if you are interested in this genre, it may be more worthwhile reading the book or watching the film. I found it pleasant, but it did not grip my full attention.

It rather washed over me as opposed to entertaining me. However, this is not meant to take anything away from the actors, as they all did a superb job and Lauren Coe especially was very believable as Lucy, hardly leaving the stage throughout.

Lucy’s progression as a character, the way she became stronger through the piece was wonderfully portrayed by the young actress who is making her UK Touring debut in this production. The Good Life star, Felicity Kendal, was also very watchable as Charlotte Bartlett and I particularly enjoyed the Edwardian humour and cheek of Joanne Pearce as Eleanor Lavish.

A Room With A View is at Guildford Yvonne Arnua Theatre until Saturday, November 5. Picture by Nobby Clarke.

We hear some lovely lines delivered by the various characters which comment on the plot in both acts, such as: “One doesn’t come to Italy for niceness, one comes for life” (Miss Lavish). “It is a wonderful opportunity… the possession of leisure” (Mr Beebe). “You may understand beautiful things, but don’t know how to use them,” (Lucy).

There is also a very funny scene involving some male nudity (which we are warned about in advance) which brought a much needed moment of light relief, but apart from that, unfortunately I do not think this will be one of the more memorable productions for me at this lovely theatre.

Felicity Kendal is always good value for money and attracts a good house, however, Lauren Coe should have had the last bow as she was the one who held this production together with a very consistent and high standard performance.

A Room With A View runs until Saturday, November 5, and tickets are available via the website: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01483 440000.

Share This Post