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The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais, adapted for this production by
Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush, directed by Neil Armfield, and presented as
part of the Energex 1998 Brisbane Festival by the Queensland Theatre
Company, marks the opening of stage five of the Queensland Cultural Centre
Complex: the Optus Playhouse Apparently when the play was first performed
in Paris on 27 April 1784 the applause was so forthcoming that it took five
hours instead of three and a half. Audience appreciation wasn't quite so
overwhelming on the night I went (10 September 1998), but there was
nevertheless quite a lot of clapping for what was quite a good performance;
actually it was better than that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable night out.
(Mind you, for $45, it would want to be -- though I guess that's the student in
me talking.)
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Contemporised to suit the current Australian socio-political climate it also
blends beautifully with the current sexo-political climate in America: it's
a story about the exercise of power without regard to the wishes of the
people, expressed through the satyriasis of the Count Almaviva, played to
hyperbolic perfection by Bille Brown. Figaro, the Count's chief steward
played by Geoffrey Rush, is to be married to Suzanne, the Countess's servant
played by Leah Purcell. On the morning of the wedding he discovers that the
Count plans to claim droit de seigneur, the ancient right of the lord to
sleep the first night with the bride of any of his vassals. Figaro is
naturally ill-disposed to such a plan, and so, a born schemer, he sets about
thwarting his master's lust. The scenario is further complicated by the
lustful intentions of Cherubin, the Count's page played by John Leary,
towards the Countess, played by Robyn Nevin; intentions which are rendered
all the more perilous by the Count's explosive jealousy.
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What we have, then, is a French bedroom farce: plenty of rushing about,
being almost caught in compromising situations, and bawdy sexual innuendo:
upon the first appearance of the Count in the company of Suzanne, for
example, his jodhpurs are so arranged as to portray an exaggerated and
unmistakable state of tumescence. The quality of the cast, mixed with the
quality of the material, produces an engaging, and sometimes hilarious
spectacle that was, as I say, well worth the cash.
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There is something about stardom that is exciting to be near -- one time, years
ago, when I was in Chicago I met a guy who had been friends with Elvis, (and
I still tell the story) -- and perhaps that's another reason why I, at least,
stopped worrying about the price of my evening out. Geoffrey Rush certainly
has stardom, and it was certainly used to full effect: he drew the audience
to himself by his very presence, and didn't disappoint with his performance. Of
course, in a play about the corrupting effects of power and prestige that
has been adapted to resonate with the contemporary world, there was the
inevitable (and maybe a bit predictable) reference made to Figaro having an
inflated opinion of his own worth because of his winning a "little award".
But whatever way you look at it, Geoffrey Rush has got it (and the award
too). I'm happy.
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Details
The Marriage of Figaro, by Beaumarchais; adapted by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush.
Queensland Theatre Company, Optus Playhouse, Brisbane, 31 Aug. to 19 Sep. 98.
Director: Neil Armfield.
Cast: Geoffrey Rush (Figaro), Bille Brown (Count Almaviva), Robyn Nevin (Countess), Leah Purcell (Suzanne), Cherubin (John Leary).
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Citation reference for this article
MLA style:
Paul Mc Cormack. "Hilarious Spectacle: 'The Marriage of Figaro'." M/C Reviews 20 Sep. 1998.
[your date of access] <http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/events/figaro.html>.
Chicago style:
Paul Mc Cormack, "Hilarious Spectacle: 'The Marriage of Figaro'," M/C Reviews 20 Sep. 1998,
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/events/figaro.html> ([your date of access]).
APA style:
Paul Mc Cormack. (1998) Hilarious spectacle: 'The marriage of Figaro'. M/C Reviews 20 Sep. 1998.
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/events/figaro.html> ([your date of access]).
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![[image]](http://qtc.thehub.com.au/f/1/images1/figpost1.JPG)