The traveling company performance of the stage adaptation of Brideshead Revisited opened earlier this week at the Oxford Playhouse where it is enjoying a one-week run. It is reviewed by John Charlton in Oxford Today, the online service of a group of “hyperlocal” Oxford-area newspapers. He found the play:
a stunning success on its opening night at the Oxford Playhouse last night (Tuesday June 14). A wonderful cast produced a mesmerising interpretation of the classic novel with strong lead performances from Brian Ferguson, Christopher Simpson and Rosie Hilal…The quality of all the cast was excellent and special mention must be given to Shuna Snow who played three male characters with style and great humour. The stage sets, lighting and music were also hugely impressive and the constant and quick changes really added to the performance.
The play continues through Saturday in Oxford before returning to the Theatre Royal, York, where it opens next Tuesday 21 June for another one-week run before moving on to London where it will be performed in suburban Richmond-on-Thames at the Richmond Theatre from 29 June-2 July.
In an earlier story, the Oxford Times interviewed Kiran Sonia Sawar who plays the role of Cordelia in the stage production. She graduated from the Oxford School of Drama and previously appeared in a pantomime at the Playhouse. After talking about her career, she had this to say about the Brideshead production:
…it’s a dream to be cast in such a classic piece. There are … many risks … because this is a really stripped back version, devised and created by the ensemble, so it’s clear, concise, detailed story-telling without too many other distractions.
