Yesterday, I sat with a few other lovely people in the gorgeous gardens of Wadham College, watching Wuthering Heights, adapted by April de Angelis and directed by Michael Oakley.
It was glorious.
The story about two difficult people in love is a classic, but the writer, director, and players made the play enormously entertaining, both funny and heart-wrenching in turn.
I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out where I’d seen Nelly (Helen Belbin) before. I bought a program just so I could ease my mind. (Call the Midwife!) I wanted to know about all of the actors, though, since they were all so good.
The set was simple, and there was no backstage. Instead, the costumes flanked the set, making it easier for the actors to change, to provide musical accompaniment and sound effects. It’s a wonderful lesson in how good theatre really is all about the script and the performances.
Get thee to the garden: fall in love.
