THE WOMAN HATER (Red Bull Theater)****

 

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk6ZMl-rcbI

Available until: Saturday 30^th January 12.30am GMT. Friday January 29th January 7pm EDT.

Frances Burney, also known as Fanny Burney, is well-known for her novels, the best known of which is probably Evelina. But she has also written quite a few plays, which have been neglected by theatres until recently. One of her plays, A Busy Day, was performed in the West End. The Woman Hater was performed at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond more recently. The theatre rightly has a very good reputation, but it’s a small theatre and its works don’t attract the same attention as those in the West End.

The Woman Hater is a surprising choice for a USA-based company which has recently focused mainly on works with a connection to William Shakespeare, but it’s a really good choice. It’s a really fun play and they have the actors with the comedy skills to perform it so why not?

The style reminds me a lot of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, whose plays include The School for Scandal and The Rivals, but the main difference for me is that The Woman Hater is a lot less annoying. The Woman Hater is a farce, full of mistaken identities and witty one-liners, but although a lot of the comedy is on the surface, I do feel that Frances Burney has created characters with depth that can be cared about as well as laughed at. (It’s a personal opinion, of course. Many people really enjoy Sheridan – and I genuinely wish I did.)

The plot of The Woman Hater is confusing and I confess I was rather lost during the first half, trying to work out who everyone was and their relationship to each other. This article explained the plot very well and cleared up a lot of the confusion to the extent where I was able to relax and enjoy the play, rather than trying to figure out who everyone was. I don’t blame Red Bull Theater for the confusion at all as most of the people in the live chat seemed able to follow the story perfectly well. They, however, were perhaps not attempting to do so after midnight! 

Red Bull Theater, as always, have designed their Zoom screens beautifully. Actors are given backgrounds for their Zoom screen, enabling them to appear as though they really are in the same room as the people they’re speaking to. I don’t think this is required, but it did add to my enjoyment. There was also a really nice background for the YouTube screen, which really helped add to the sense of place.

The plot is far too complicated to explain here, but the eponymous woman hater is Sir Roderick. He was hurt by a woman many years ago and since then, he has hated all women and not allowed any in his house. The last thing he wants is a young woman showing up, claiming to be his niece. However, he is not the only mature gentleman wandering about the place. Add to that a young man who can’t decide if he wants to marry for money or love, not to mention another young lady causing havoc, and things do get a bit confusing.

Matthew Saldivar is hilarious as Sir Roderick, apoplectic with rage at the mere thought of a woman. Arnie Burton does an excellent job in two roles: Wilmot (another angry old man) and Old Waverly, who really can’t make up his mind if he’s scandalised or extremely flattered. Lady Smatter’s name perhaps comes from the fact that she has a smattering of literary knowledge, which she likes to exhibit at every opportunity. Veanne Cox’s performance is big, bright and bold, full of drama and humour.

Cherie Corinne Rice does a very impressive job of distinguishing the mischievous and stroppy Joyce from the more earnest but still animated Sophia. It does seem slightly odd for these two roles to be played by the same actor, but when one actor can perform the roles as well as this, it does make sense. The kindness and awkwardness Nick Westrate gives to Young Waverly makes his money/love dilemma much more interesting than it might have been and seems not so much mercenary as someone who is really anxious to make the correct decision.

Eleanora is a bit different from the other characters. Her role is less based in comedy and Rebecca S’Manga Frank’s performance is very emotional and full of depth. I feel she grounds the play emotionally (a bit like the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro) and plays a big part in ensuring it’s more than just a bit of fun.

This really is a very enjoyable and interesting play and as with most of Red Bull Theater’s productions, there’s no guarantee there will be an opportunity to see this play again. You’ve got four days!