Back row: Steve Williams, Martin Ward, and Linda O'Brien.
Front: Alan Lear, Louise Wright, and Vivian Sebastian
Review
From the author of the classic ‘Hindle Wakes’, this is a play heavily influenced by the Godfather of modern drama, Henrik Ibsen (and, in particular, Ibsen’s timeless classic ‘A Doll’s House’) with its tale of a strong young woman struggling to exercise her individual rights regarding power over her own life. Like Ibsen, Stanley Houghton (who wrote the play at age 28; just 4 years before he died) examined Victorian family values and the contrasting realities that lay behind the often elaborate facades of everyday life. Written in 1909, much of the characters’ behaviour and views on life seem pretty ridiculous and small-minded to a more enlightened and liberated modern audience, and there is much humour to be derived from their conduct. But to a contemporary audience it would have been shocking and scandalous to promote the ideas of votes for women and equal pay for all, and here is the challenge for a director. Should they go for the easy laughs and send the characters up, or play it straight down the line and allow the story to stand on its own feet? Happily, The Carlton Players’ production, directed by Brian Dickson, takes the latter route. Treating the play with respect, Mr Dickson does not seek to patronize the audience, and quite rightly lets his actors play their roles with honesty.
The affluent Forsyth family has their world turned upside down when their fortune is all but wiped out overnight following Mr Forsyth’s irresponsible speculating on the stock market (some things never change!). Feckless and immature Edgar Forsyth has married the feisty and iron-willed Sidney, a young woman whose education and politically-aware sensibilities enable her to exert her natural business skills and thus save her and Edgar from certain ruin. Business rival Mr Richie offers to help the family out, but his kindness is rejected by the proud and arrogant Forsyth. Unknown to her husband or in-laws, the practical Sidney takes a job as Richie’s secretary, and is later joined by a reluctant Edgar in the same office.
When tragedy hits the family, it is up to Sidney and a gradually maturing Edgar to lead everyone towards a brighter future.
Louise Wright as Sidney lights up the stage with an energetic, finely-tuned performance, and is complimented superbly by the charismatic Alan Lear who succeeds in making the exasperating Edgar both contemptible and loveable in equal measure. The two young actors make a fine team, and a most believable married couple. Steve Williams makes a superbly uptight and most unsympathetic Mr Forsyth, while Vivian Sebastian as his long-suffering wife simply bristles with repressed emotion. The brash and highly likeable Mr Richie is played by Martin Ward, who gives us a gem of a performance full of joy and life-enhancing vitality. Linda O’Brien as Jane, the faithful maid who continues to prop up the family even after coming into sudden wealth herself, completes a fine ensemble with the kind of part every actress would kill for, but few could play with as much humanity and natural warmth.
Performed with relish on a superbly, and solidly, realistic set, ‘Independent Means’ is good old-fashioned entertainment, and a great example of just how good theatre can be. The Carlton Players are an amateur company, but you could have fooled me.
The affluent Forsyth family has their world turned upside down when their fortune is all but wiped out overnight following Mr Forsyth’s irresponsible speculating on the stock market (some things never change!). Feckless and immature Edgar Forsyth has married the feisty and iron-willed Sidney, a young woman whose education and politically-aware sensibilities enable her to exert her natural business skills and thus save her and Edgar from certain ruin. Business rival Mr Richie offers to help the family out, but his kindness is rejected by the proud and arrogant Forsyth. Unknown to her husband or in-laws, the practical Sidney takes a job as Richie’s secretary, and is later joined by a reluctant Edgar in the same office.
When tragedy hits the family, it is up to Sidney and a gradually maturing Edgar to lead everyone towards a brighter future.
Louise Wright as Sidney lights up the stage with an energetic, finely-tuned performance, and is complimented superbly by the charismatic Alan Lear who succeeds in making the exasperating Edgar both contemptible and loveable in equal measure. The two young actors make a fine team, and a most believable married couple. Steve Williams makes a superbly uptight and most unsympathetic Mr Forsyth, while Vivian Sebastian as his long-suffering wife simply bristles with repressed emotion. The brash and highly likeable Mr Richie is played by Martin Ward, who gives us a gem of a performance full of joy and life-enhancing vitality. Linda O’Brien as Jane, the faithful maid who continues to prop up the family even after coming into sudden wealth herself, completes a fine ensemble with the kind of part every actress would kill for, but few could play with as much humanity and natural warmth.
Performed with relish on a superbly, and solidly, realistic set, ‘Independent Means’ is good old-fashioned entertainment, and a great example of just how good theatre can be. The Carlton Players are an amateur company, but you could have fooled me.
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