Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in repertory, 2006

'A Woman of No Importance' at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

THIS PRODUCTION of ‘A Woman of no Importance’ by Oscar Wilde was beautifully staged and costumed, as is the case with all the PFT productions. The play depicts the plight of an angry woman (Mrs Arbuthnot, played superbly by Karen Davies) confronting the man (Lord Illingworth, played perfectly by Jonathan Coote) who corrupted her many years previously, with their son’s future (a lovely role for Richard Galazka) very much at stake.

How well this play flowed along, despite the outpouring of the myriad Oscar Wilde aphorisms, quotables, and well-worn pithy one-liners, most of which can be found in any good book of quotations. As they erupted one after another, and sometimes two at a time, it was detectable that the audience had fun completing them under their breath before the actors did.

The first two acts were exceedingly wordy with little action other than lengthy and witty conversations over drinks, and gushing entrances and exits. During this time, personalities emerged, attitudes were expressed, and the Shires backgrounds of the characters revealed.

Acts two and three built up the tension magnificently, body language and physical activity became more animated, and the rhythm of the script, now excluding most of the familiar phrases, drove the plot inevitably to a most stunning climax.

The whole stylish production by Benjamin Twist was an absolute delight and can be recommended wholeheartedly to all lovers of superb acting and presentation, and of course, Oscar Wilde’s wonderful script.

© Arthur Brocklebank, 2006

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• Pitlochry Festival Theatre