Review: Keep an Eye on Amelia, Western Players (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Review: Keep an Eye on Amelia, Western Players

2:32pm Thursday 24th November 2011 in Theatre & Arts By Stella Taylor

The Western Players deserve congratulation on their stylish staging of this Fawcett/Murray translation of a Georges Feydeau comedy.

Julia Edwards directed an accomplished 22-strong cast in this frothy French confection, set in Paris in the early 1900s and enhanced by excellent period dress.

Laura Keogh played Amelie, a coquette who embarks on a marriage of convenience to enable the bridegroom Marcel (John Fisher) to inherit a fortune, despite his commission from Etienne (Matt King) to keep an eye on Amelie.

Godfrey Room struck a high moral tone as Van Putzeboum, Marcel’s godfather, who is oblivious to the intrigue and the sexual proclivities of such distinguished characters as the Prince of Palestrie, played with panache by Tony Manders.

Clive Baker was the authoritative General Koshnadieff, and Roger Trayhurn had a delightful cameo role as the fussy usher at the town hall.

The well-constructed set, designed by Tina Ryan and Ray Thompson, was adapted amazingly to depict Amelie's salon, the town hall and two very different bedrooms.