Leeds Playhouse, Leeds – until Saturday 13 May 2023
Reviewed by Sofia Robottom
4****
Set during the Napoleonic wars, J.M Barrie’s ‘Quality Street’, the play from which the renowned UK chocolate brand procured its name, explores a light-hearted, romantic affair with an unpredictable and amusing twist.
Directed by Laurie Sansom, this enticing performance, satiated with witty humour, was revived after being halted by the pandemic. In this adaptation, Northern Broadsides incorporates commentary from former ‘Quality Street’ factory employees, which introduces insightful perspectives and entertaining discussion, allowing the play to transition between acts smoothly, as well as generate comedic value. Although there is no obvious link between the chocolate company and the play, aside from the title, the dialogue of the factory workers brilliantly contributes to the authenticity of the production.
After turning a blind eye to the mutual affection between himself and Phoebe Throssel, Valentine Brown announces his enrolment in the army against Napoleon. Despite her disappointment after expecting a proposal from Brown, Phoebe accepts her fate and establishes a school for unruly children, as money was scarce for her and her sister Susan Throssel, who was played by Louisa-May Parker. When Valentine Brown returns, he is discontented by Phoebe’s appearance which has been worn and fatigued by age. Disheartened, Pheobe donned an alter-ego, pretending to be her own niece and charming the military men, including Captain Brown, with her bodacious manner. As Phoebe attempts to juggle her two identities, suspicions arise, and her secret proves difficult to conceal.
Beautifully performed and exuding energy, this play depicts a love story, laced with miscommunication and deceit. The amusing element of J.M Barrie’s play which the actors cleverly implement, keeps the audience captivated. Playing Phoebe Throssle, Paula Lane flawlessly executes her two contrasting personas, the weary and drained schoolmistress and her make-belief niece Livvy, a youthful, flirtatious spirit who entrances Valentine Brown, a noble and praiseworthy soldier with a strong presence, portrayed by Aron Julius. Phoebe’s perfectly juxtaposed personas reflect the theme of aging and the change in identity which comes with the loss of youth, a theme typical of J.M Barrie as the writer ‘Peter Pan’. The puppeteering was also an entertaining aspect, as the puppets’ shocking appearance amplified the misconduct of the school children and added further amusement.
Conveying the industrial image of the chocolate factory, combined with characteristics of the Regency era, Northern Broadsides’ stage layout allows seamless transitions to take place. The welcoming domestic setting displays dark furniture that depicts the period in which the play is set, with warm lighting that sets a homely scene. In the second half of the performance, the opulence of the ball, marvellously encapsulates the flamboyant nature of the upper class during the Regency period, alongside the music heard playing continuously in the distance. The patriotic element in the play reminds us of the context of conflict which is emphasised by the appearance of the Recruiting Sergeant, performed by Jamie Smelt, who makes light of the subject of war for comedic relief. The fantastic comedic timing of this adaptation sets a brilliant pace.
A scene that particularly stood out was the scene after interval which introduces a vibrant, opulent ballroom, the characters’ costumes reminiscent of quality street wrappers – multicoloured and metallic. The choreography provokes laughter within the audience who are able to identify with the contemporary adaptation of the play. Towards the end, Patty the maid, portrayed by Gilly Tompkins, brilliantly contributes to the unfolding of the play as she is unable to contain herself from withholding the truth about Livvy. Finally, the scene in which Valentine Brown cleverly deceives the Willoughbys, two nosy neighbours performed by Alicia McKenzie and Jelani D’Aguilar, by swiftly removing Livvy from the Throssel’s home, is also notable as it is hilariously carried out. This engaging performance is guaranteed to produce laughter and delight within an audience.