Review: ARCADIA at Duke of York's Theatre

At the time, it was universally lauded for its wit, and capacity to clearly elucidate theoretical scientific concepts, while simultaneously invoking the romanticism of Lord Byron, duels fought with pistols and the rolling English countryside of the pre-industrial era. That it managed to convey these things cheek-by-jowl with a present day literature academic’s over-urgent desire to make a name for himself, simply demonstrated the playwright’s extraordinary capacity for incorporating deeply researched topics in an entirely entertaining and accessible way for laymen theatregoers.

The beauty and erudition in Stoppard’s masterpiece is writ large in director Carrie Cracknell’s production which transferred this week to the Duke of York’s (soon to be renamed the Tom Stoppard Theatre in honour of the playwright). Alex Eales’s design, which has been slightly reworked from the Old Vic staging, is a simple double revolve set, adorned with a few sticks of early 19th century furniture, beneath illuminated suspended globes. The multiplicity of leather-bound books, candles, Coke cans and even Lightning the tortoise, serve as the props needed to round out the story which is set entirely within the English country house of the Coverly family, but at two distinctly different periods a little under two hundred years apart.

During the earlier period, the extensive grounds are in considerable disarray as landscape gardener Richard Noakes (Aaron Anthony) has begun his redesign works, causing the disapproving mistress of the house Lady Croom (an excellent Yolanda Kettle) to dub him Culpability Brown. An astute young lady Thomasina (the radiant Isis Hainsworth), discusses and theorises on scientific matters with her tutor Septimus Hodge (Seamus Dillane). His earthy charisma and intellect have not gone unnoticed by Lady Croom nor her house guest (the unseen Mrs Chater) although her cuckolded husband Mr Chater (Matthew Steer) a derided and untalented poet, seems determined to fight a duel in defence of her equally derided honour. Various missives which allude to trysts and challenges are delivered and become secreted between the pages of volumes which eventually find their way to the unseen Lord Byron. Meanwhile in more recent times, a comically self-assured literary researcher Bernard Nightingale (Oliver Chris) arrives seeking an audience with successful writer/author Hannah Jarvis (Nikki Amuka-Bird) who is engaged to the Croom’s descendant and present master of the house Valentine Coverly (Angus Cooper).

If Bernard is to prove his theory that Lord Byron fought a duel resulting in Mr Chater’s death before escaping to the Continent two hundred years before, the letters secreted in books known to have been in the poet’s possession, provide the basis for a tantalising supposition. Association with the family, and more specifically access to their library, will likely unearth further evidence to add much needed provenance in support of his woolly hypothesis. Valentine however, is consumed by the altogether weightier matter that Thomasina’s graphs and mathematical theorems from centuries earlier, marked her out as an extraordinary thinker and unsung genius in her own right.

There is an unbridled joy in hearing Stoppard’s intelligence and wordcraft delivered by a troupe of universally accomplished players. The Duke of York’s may not quite match the intimacy of the Old Vic, but if you missed the show earlier this year, and enjoy funny, subtle and intelligent theatre, make every effort to see the production which continues until 12th September and plays just shy of 2 hours 45 mins including the interval.

Arcadia Tickets