Arcadia

Stoppard’s Arcadia was inspired by the book, Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick. Such a title should be enough of an alert to the intricate nature of this piece; enough perhaps to deter first-timers to Stoppard; but somehow STC have managed to present the text tangibly without detracting from its intelligence. Of course if you’re worried, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a copy of the play and become acquainted with the cerebral subject matter before walking in.

True to the director’s successful track record within the company, Richard Cottrell’s vision played out perfectly. The static set, though a picture of grandeur, is generally bare, drawing all focus onto the wonderfully selected cast.

Andrea Demetriades as Hannah Jarvis was the stand-out on the stage last night. Her performance was compelling; her character an unlikely mixture of high intelligence and pragmatism. Wherever the text offered tongue-in-cheek, Demetriades shone. Supporting her all the while was Josh McConville as Bernard Nightingale. Eccentric and bright, he was often the catalyst for energy on the stage. This pair’s chemistry and their dialogue was completely endearing, ensuring the constant engagement and interaction of an audience with content that could easily have become lost in the heightened language.

Arcadia has a poster-boy, a face on the buses; our big-shot name is Ryan Corr, whose most recent claim to success would be his heart-wrenching performance in the 2015 film Holding The Man. Let the curiosity get the better of you, because Corr does not disappoint. Perfect for this period role, Corr is witty and charming as Septimus Hodge. Corr navigates his way through complex interactions with various characters, rashly jumps from one topic to the next, and all the while keeps his audience captivated. A favourite on Australian TV and film, Corr is a gift to the stage and slots into the prestigious Sydney Theatre Company nicely.
This was a cast where the individual performances blended to create a sensational whole. Of note, though, was Blazey Best as Lady Croom. Her delivery was hilarious and, at times, show-stealing.

One might notice a lack of criticism in this review, and let me point out that this is no accident. It’s incredibly exciting to have a high calibre, multi-layered text like this one brought to Sydney. By selecting this Stoppard piece, STC have challenged their audience to grapple with complex notions in science, love and universality. Of course, this is a challenge to the company as well, one which they met out of a combination of simplicity in technical production and dynamic energy in each and every actor. It was a real pleasure to spend a Friday night being entertained by the genius of this production.

Sally Alrich-Smythe

Images: (top) Josh McConville and Andrea Demetriades, and (lower) Georgia Flood, Will McDonald and Michael Sheasby in Sydney Theatre Company’s Arcadia. © Heidrun Löhr.