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Working in the pubic sector . . . Mrs Warren's Profession
Malvern Festival Theatre
**** SUE Holderness,
famous for her role as Marlene in Only
Fools & Horses, is an apt choice to
play the lead role in this fine production. That's because there is more than a whiff of
Marlene in the lady of the night Mrs Warren, who has gained financial
status despite her common beginnings. For those of you unfamiliar with the play by
George Bernard Shaw, it was originally banned in England due to its
audaciousness in giving a prostitute a voice to justify herself. Despite
being the world's oldest profession, Mrs Warren's Profession was deemed
way too frank and ground-breaking when written in 1894 - and for the
next three decades. The story focusses on young head-strong and
sensible Cambridge graduate Vivie Warren, who finds out her mother has
financed her education and luxurious lifestyle through a lengthy career
of prostitution. This discovery leads to a fall-out between
family, friends and suitors as well as raising some poignant questions
about hypocrisy within There is a cast of famous names in this splendid production created by Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre and alongside Holderness is Christopher Timothy, once of All Creatures Great And Small, as Sir George Crofts Holderness has the right balance of bravado and
likeability to play such a strong character and Timothy is cast against
type as an odious elderly rich man wanting to get his hands on her naive
daughter.
However, it is Emily Woodward playing Vivie who
stands out. She is exceptional in the role playing a feminist ahead of
her time, who wants nothing more than to be left alone to smoke cigars
and have a glass of whisky while reading a murder mystery novel -
something that attracts gasps of dismay from her fly-by-night beau
Frank. It's a small cast but a strong one that gels
well. Ryan Saunders, playing Frank, seems like a talented young name to
look out for while Richard Derrington, as his reverend father, is an
experienced slick operator whose voice you may be familiar with as Mark
Hebden in The Archers. Christopher Bowen, who
has appeared in an endless list of television dramas from
Big Deal to
Lewis
and Parade's End,
is another strong link in the production as likeable chap Praed. Malvern is the final leg of a brief tour for Mrs
Warren's Profession and I'd recommend trying to get tickets while you
can. To Saturday, 1, August Alison Brinkworth
28-07-15
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society.