One translation of La Ronde is round dance (see note below), and the play consists of ten or so scenes each between two lovers, one of whom goes on to the next scene, where he or she is involved with another. There's a cyclical theme involved too. The first scene features a prostitute, and so does the last. The play was originally written as Reigen by Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931) in 1897. To refresh it, some of the scenes - in this new translation and adaptation by director Neil Sheppeck - are gender-reversed or altered. In the first encounter, for example, the soldier is a woman and the whore a man.

There's a lot of sex. Apparently in the original, the curtains came down in its place, and the band played. In this production, sex is conveyed through dance: a sort of sculptural tango. Music is by Gotan Project (www.gotanproject.com). It's said that the play polarised opinion when first performed. There were riots, and the script sold in huge numbers. But a hundred or so years on, the idea that sex drives the world isn't shocking; Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is no longer a radical thinker; contraception is part of everyday life; and none of the scenes of La Ronde would cause the average newspaper reader to blink. For the play to strike home today, it needs something more than the original - some kind of initiative to make it work.

The tango is a nice thought - sometimes it does work and is very sexy. But sometimes it seems a bit too arty and self-conscious. As far as the playing goes - because of the multi-scene structure - there aren't many opportunities for anyone to establish character. But there's no doubting the commitment of each actor involved, most notably Lucia McAnespie (Frankie/Emma/Leonata).

Overall though, La Ronde is disappointing. Tonight it comes across as a bedroom farce, but without the humour (sadly, each time clothes are cast aside, buttons, zips and laces become the principal players). It's a peep-show of a perfomance, entertaining in parts, lacking a contemporary edge.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): La Ronde Ensemble: Preston Clare - Carl. Cary Crankson - Leo/Sam/Charles. Lucia McAnespie - Frankie/Emma/Leonata. Ellie Turner - Marie/Margarita. Simon Yadoo - Alfred/Biebitz. Credits source / spellings: www.loveandmadness.org at 6 March 09.

Company Credits: Writer - Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931). Translated & Adapted By - Neil Sheppeck. Director - Neil Sheppeck. Set Design - Nicky Bunch. Costume Design - Nell Knudsen. Lighting Design - Mark Howland. Movement Director - Jane Stanton. Technical Manager - Matt Lee Newby. Re-lights on Tour - Matt Lee Newby. Assistant Director - Eyal Israel. Voice Dialect - Mary Howland. Production Assistant - Amy Jewel. Design Assistant - Lucy Stack. Design Assistant - Helen Quinn Gregson. Costume Assistant - Giulia Scrimieri. Costume Maker - Linda Tiebel. Costume Maker - Eve Collins. Costume Maker - Katie Rutter. Costume Maker - Claire Leadley. Scenic Artist - Yu Kim Tan. Scenic Artist - Pippa Breslin. Scenic Artist - Alison Drane. Set Contruction - Laura Monks. Press & PR - Paul Sullivan (Paul Sullivan PR). Press & PR - Louise Lawrence (Paul Sullivan PR). Producer - uncredited. Company - Love & Madness Ensemble. Love & Madness Credits: General Manager - Amy Taylor. Casting Director - Irene East. Publicist - Steve Forster (SFP Communications, sfppr.co.uk). Associate Director - Catriona Craig. Associate Director - Kim Gilchrist. Associate Designer - Nicky Bunch. Artistic Director & Producer - Neil Sheppeck. Website - www.loveandmadness.org. Website page for La Ronde - www.loveandmadness.org/ronde.htm. Credits source / spellings: mainly www.loveandmadness.org at 6 March 09.

END

(c) Michael Spring 2009

reviewed Thursday 5 March 2009 / Riverside Studios, London, UK

Notes: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Schnitzler: 'Reigen (1897), more usually called La Ronde and also known as Hands Around, is still frequently presented. Max Ophüls directed the first movie adaptation of the play in 1950; Roger Vadim directed a second version in 1964. In 1998, it was reworked by British playwright David Hare as The Blue Room.'

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com