Lady Julia takes place on New Year's Eve in present-day Kent, UK. It is based on the 1906 play Miss Julie by August Strindberg (1849-1912), about the devouring passion of aristocratic Julie (here Julia) and manservant Jean (here John). This re-imagination and new translation by James Kenward & Ben Kenward takes in modern language along the way ('She's a nutter'), allowing upstart John to steal a bottle of his master the Earl's 'best Chardonnay'.

Some of this is quite fun and the occasional slang gives a bit of a jolt, but is the idea of a rich girl wanting to escape her everyday life any more relevant to today than it was to Victorians? Are audiences incapable of imagining themselves back in the Victorian age? A definitive answer would be difficult, but setting a play in modern times does make it easier in a practical sense - for example set (by Louise Mullan) and costume (Lucille Acevedo-Jones) can be so much straightforward. So when the all-too-alluring Lady Julia (Annabel Topham) appears in her party dress with joke tiara and glasses, it does seem as if there's something to the idea.

Lady Julia plays with fire as she encourages an affair with ambitious manservant John (James Kenward, suitably stolid). The full heat doesn't only come from her sudden passion. Social and class restrictions on both sides of this brief relationship keep the lid on the boiling pot - making the explosion when it comes that much more spectacular. Setting it in the modern age does undermine at least some of that tension.

But Lady Julia is an enjoyable production which preserves a lot of the strength of true fringe theatre. It is an intimate experience, played with freshness by all concerned. And it has a great moment mid-way with a brief dance interlude, performed with real poise by Alastair Sims (as Ryan) and Lizzie Phillips (as Kayleigh) - a bit of a triumph from director Gabriella Santinelli.

Pre-seduction scenes bowl along at a good pace, and there is a nice tension about the will-she-won't-she storyline. Pace isn't quite as strong in the second half, and the back-story gets rather involved. But overall it is an attractively-played piece with a lot of presence.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): James Kenward – John. Lizzie Phillips – Kayleigh. Amy Rhodes – Christine. Alastair Sims – Ryan. Annabel Topham – Lady Julia.

Company Credits: Writer (of Miss Julie, first performed 1906) - Johan August Strindberg (1849-1912). Translators and Adaptors- James Kenward & Dr Ben Kenward. Director - Gabriella Santinelli. Set Designer - Louise Mullan. Lighting Designer - Katie Pitt. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - . Costume – Lucille Acevedo-Jones. Press - Emma Luffingham. Co-Producer - Emma Luffingham. Producer - uncredited. Company - In The Lamp Light Theatre Company. Website - inthelamplight.wearevi.com.

END

(c) Michael Spring 2009

reviewed Wednesday 9 December 2009 / Hen & Chickens, London UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com