In spite of, or perhaps because of, its “unreliable” summer weather, the British seem to have a fascination with outdoor theatre. Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) opened in 2015 and presents all types of shows from May until September. It is a very smart, welcoming, venue, with the audience sitting on wooden benches cut into a slope and with well-drained imitation grass to walk on. As with the audience, the large thrust stage is totally open to the elements, so that if it rains, everyone gets wet! Performances are not cancelled whatever the weather, so I was very grateful that the show I reviewed was presented, perhaps surprisingly, on a warm, sunny evening.
Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo is the ultimate swashbuckling novel and one has mental images of Robert Donat duelling up and down stairs and leaping from chandeliers on vast Hollywood film stages. There have been at least five ‘silent’ and ‘three’ sound versions of this story! The convoluted plot of the 1844 epic concerns Edmond Dantes who innocently agrees to deliver a letter for which he is unjustly imprisoned for twenty years… before escaping and getting his revenge!
Rather Nifty Theatre has devised a very tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Dumas’s work, using three actors in about twenty-five roles! Directed by Adam Elliott the result is often, especially in Act One, most amusing and very apt for outdoor theatre. I use the word “devise” because the piece has the feel of improvised theatre, even if both Oliver Malam and Adam Elliott are credited with writing it.
Malam himself plays Dantes with a great sense of swagger and frequent “knowing” glances to the audience, with whom there is quite a lot of interaction, not all of which works. Every word is crystal clear right to the back of the 400-seater air-conditioned auditorium, which is no mean feat – taking into account aircraft, gulls and the wind! He also plays the most inventive character of the evening, Leopold the dancing horse.
Elliott is given the opportunity to act most of the villains including Napoleon, Villefort and love interest Mercedes. He exhibits great energy and is the perfect foil to Malam – they work very smoothly together and put so much physical energy into what they do that they must be exhausted by the last page!
Christina Baston has the unenviable task of portraying twelve characters, male and female, yet always ends up smiling, even if her very high-pitched vocalisation does get a bit wearying on the ear!
All three understand the larger-than-life style that is required and get the most humour possible out of the material.
Rowena Bird is credited with some inventive costume design but the often imaginative sound effects and music are not, which is a shame. It is also a pity that there is not a programme or cast list available for the audience or at the very least a cast and creatives list on a blackboard at the entrance to the theatre.
Whereas Act One runs for forty-five minutes and seems just the right length, Act Two lasts seventy minutes and would benefit from being pruned considerably, even if Dumas’ story has to be simplified. Towards the end, it was evident from looking around the audience that attention was flagging!
This apart, the evening was relaxing, enjoyable, fun, just the thing for a warm July evening.
Review by John Groves
Alexandre Dumas’ celebrated novel is a favourite of readers all over the world, but it rarely makes an appearance on our stages or screens. And certainly never like this… So join three intrepid actors in this fast paced and furiously funny retelling of the greatest revenge tale ever told.
The year is 1815. France is divided. Napoleon plots his return to power, and humble sailor Edmond Dantes is living a simple honest life. Or so he thinks. Betrayed by those who know him, accused of treason, Edmund is imprisoned in the depths of the prison island The Chateau D’If. Forsaken and forgotten, he begins to weave an intricate web of vengeance.
Expect revenge, redemption and a whole load of ridiculousness as all 1200 pages of French epic are stuffed onto stage in this brand-new comedy adaptation. Bringing to life the original jailbreak story… probably… I mean it’s fairly old.
The Count of Monte Cristo is an epic tale of vengeance, redemption and how far one man will go for justice.
CAST
Oliver Malam
Adam Elliott
Christina Baston
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director – Adam Elliott
Production Design – Rather Nifty (Adam Elliott and Oliver Malam)
Costume Design – Rowena Bird and Rather Nifty
Rather Nifty presents
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
Written by Adam Elliott and Oliver Malam
Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas
Brighton Open Air Theatre
11 to 13 July 2024
