Derek Wright, Bruce Panday, Robert Benfield and Joss Porter
The White Carnation
Jermyn Street Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 7th February 2014
The White Carnation is a classy comedy set in the early 1950s. It is the hugely pompous characters that bring the piece to life and provide various moments of utter hilarity. Michael Praed is superb as John Greenwood (aka the ghost). It takes John some convincing before he realises he actually is a ghost and not just the subject of a cruel practical joke. Knight Mantell's production steers clear of ghostly stereotypes; there is no walking through walls or gliding through the air.
The White Carnation runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre until Saturday 22nd February 2014.
Please visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit: Mitzi de Margary
Follow @West_End_Frame
Jermyn Street Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 7th February 2014
On paper R. C. Sherriff's play The White Carnation, which has transferred to the Jermyn Street from the Finborough Theatre, sounds like another spooky play about Ghosts. However, this could not be further from the truth. Yes - The White Carnation may be about a man who returns to the house he was killed in years later, but it is not R. C. Sherriff's intention to frighten or startle the audience.
 |
| Michael Praed and Daisy Boulton |
Various characters, including the coroner, police surgeon, Sir Horace Duncan of the Home Office and the Vicar, visit John to try and come to terms with the situation - it's not every day a man returns from the dead and demands his fortune and property back. Then there’s poor Mrs Carter who lives next door and pops in to meet her new neighbour, as well as Lydia Truscott who turns up at the house desperate to see a ghost but ends up befriending one instead.
The contrasting larger-than-life characters are just perfect as they keep the piece interesting and drive it forward. Many scenes are duologues but, as the scenes smoothly flow and slot together nicely, The White Carnation does not feel formulaic. I felt the play dragged just once during the scene with Sir Horace Duncan of the Home Office which delves into the law and ghosts during which a mystery mobile phone barking like a dog became far more entertaining.
I think it's absolutely wonderful that such an excellent play has received such a high quality revival. It is impossible to pick out stand performances as The White Carnation is a cracking ensemble show giving everybody their time to shine. It's also nice to see a play about a ghost which doesn't attempt to scare an audience in an obvious or tacky manner!
A delightful production.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
The White Carnation runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre until Saturday 22nd February 2014.
Please visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit: Mitzi de Margary
No comments:
Post a Comment