AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS AT THE ARTS THEATRE
Alex Phelps, Genevieve Sabherwal and Eddie Mann. Photo credit_ Anthony Robling
When Phineas Fogg takes on a bet in London’s Reform Club the stakes are high. Twenty thousand pounds say he cannot get around the world in 80 days. The wager laid, the chips are down and the ultra-proper Englishman gets going on his epic adventure with his famous French servant Passepartout at his side.
With Alex Phelps stonily set in his Empire- era, stiff-upper-lip. ultra English mode, and the stellar Wilson Benedito as a clowning helpmeet, the production gets off to s stunning start - exuberance and humour at its core. What follows is a brilliantly rumbustious show packed with crazy capers, circus antics and a sense of fabulous fun. Yet it still sticks close to the Jules Verne story, even the text echoes the original from time to time. But often it really splendidly- does not. Eddie Mann as the detective who tracks our hero is brilliant - like all the cast he morphs from one role to another with breathtaking skill. at one moment he is a Glaswegian colonial station master in Bombay and next riding high on the cross continental dash from San Francisco to New York to chase the steamer back home to Liverpool .In one hilarious sequence Phineas Fogg Alex Phelps leaps out of character to give him permission for some old fashioned rifle fire from the train. For irony in action and an inspired sense of story telling, this cast hit the sweet spots every time.
If you are not, as the woman next to me wasn’t, a fan of slapstick this production will have little allure. But despite the astonishing energy and high octane action, it is a nuanced telling of a ripping. international adventure and is packed with information and cleverness. For children it is a treat to dream of - the lovely laughter from young audience members was part of the thrilling evening - most of us - enjoyed. It would be nowhere though, without the amazing performances of the women in the cast. Genevieve Sabherwal shimmers as the Indian Princess rescued from her terrible fate of Suti ( immolation at the death of a husband) And the narrative stops the story to point out the fact that Suit was illegal in India at the time of the British conquest and very rare. Still lit’s a great rescue and as Princess Aouda she makes a lovely centre piece for the plot. Like all the cast she has so many roles but excels in the centre piece - love conquers all
Everyone in this show was versatile vivacious and - very good. But Katriona Brown surely stood out as Nellie Bly the real life American rival to fictional Phineas who went round the world in - 72 days . she also played a huge range of key figures - I adored her whip cracking Annie Get Your Gun bravado in Cowgirl Lamé when the travellers joint the circus. Superb.
So where has author Jules Verne been all these years? What a coup de theatre to revive hm. His own life was brave and adventurous and he is now, get this, the most translated author in the entire world. Amazing . Like the show !
The amazingly talented Wilson Benedito, Eddie Mann, Katriona Brown, Genevieve Sabherwal and Alex Phelps.
Photo credit_ Anthony Robling.
