Princess Ivona
Written by: Witold Gombrowicz
Directed by: Allen Cooke
October 2006
A classic comedy written in the 1930's and produced by theatre groups around the world. It's a truly 'absurd' comedy, a forerunner to the Monty Python style of production.The action is based in a pompous Royal Court where everyone is consumed by his or her own importance. The arrival of ugly Princess Ivona totally disrupts the court, driving the characters into an extreme and amusing farce. Getting increasingly farcical the players manically make their way to the final curtain, an ending unexpected in its outcome and timing.
Cast List
Character
Actor
King Ignatios
Ian Lodge
Queen Margaret
Glenys Young
Lord Chamberlain
Keith Goody
Prince Phillip
Sam Jefferyes
Beggar
Irene Davis
Simon, Prince's Aide
Greg Turner
Cyprian, an Acolyte
Mike Jefferyes
Isobel, Lady in Waiting
Emma Daldry
Ivona
Ken Templey
Ivona's Aunts
Barbara Harrold;Ann Doherty;
Checkers
Martin Herford
The Innocent
Phil Davis
Ladies of the Court
Annie Lodge;Rosemarie Nelson;
Reviews
This is an absurdist Polish comedy in four acts. I would find it difficult to describe the plot, or the meaning. The King's son Prince Philip, determined to rebel against the norms of the court falls 'in love' with a 'simple' village girl - Ivona and then becomes determined to marry her to the horror of the court. He and the court are then determined to kill her before the marriage takes place, this is the essence, I think, of the plot.The cast made a valiant effort at this play; unfortunately the speed and flow essential for a farce were lost. Individually there were some good performances, principally that of Ken Templey as Ivona, a role that was one very much of movement and facial expressions rather than dialogue, he did very well with this role and basically stole much of the show, as did Martin Herford as Checkers.
The pace for a farce was slow with the flow unfortunately at times interrupted by prompts. The lighting was a little too simple, more use could have been made of colour, was it available? The music was too loud, with the sound desk right at the back of the hall, the volume is muted by the time it reaches there. The group may well have benefited from seeing a farce before rehearsals began to get used to the speed they needed to perform at. The cast tried hard and the company were well dressed and well made-up, there was a simple but effective set.
Leslie Judd, NODA