The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
By Jay Presson Allen
Adapted from the novel by Muriel Spark
Directed by Andrew Meldrum
Producer – Allie Clare
Assistant Director – Kath Addicoat
Costumes – Kath Addicoat
Lighting Design – Roger Farley
Sound Design – Russell Servis
Cast:
Karen Hunt, David Runnalls, Andrew Walker, Christine Walker, Cherry
Servis, Mike de Jong, Alex Mc Murray, Pam Lenders, Julia Santamaria, Amber
Hemmes, Isobel walker, Tilly Munro-Lawrence, Grace Sullivan, Madison Galea,
Casey Dzesa, Emily Clare Cousins, Laura Crozier and Tilly Snell.
Playing February/March 2016
Season Finished
This is such an interesting and complex
play that can be accessed on a number of levels. Above all it is fascinating and entertaining
story that is certainly worth catching – if you are not too far from Macedon.
It is comfortably presented and beautifully
produced (Allie Clare) on Jubilee Hall’s lovely deep stage by resident Theatre
Company Mt Players.
Set in a private girls’ school in England,
and spanning from early 1931 to the time of the Spanish War, it delves into a
number of concerns. The original book,
that one assumes, is full of the feminist, moral and religious arguments of the
time, was written by Muriel Spark and first published in 1968. The highly successful play was adapted by Jay
Presson Allen and staged soon after that.
The mores are of a bygone era, but not the issues of protecting the
young and naïve, maintaining appropriate boundaries between teacher and pupil
and the very deep emotional and psychological damage of betrayal.
A kind of a hologram, Miss Jean Brodie is an
amazingly unconventional wonderfully caring and connected teacher. She exudes the allure of a woman who lives a
life of romantic illusion and has the charm of someone who can be daringly
reckless. Sometimes she seems to be
inappropriately manipulative as she draws ‘her girls’ too deeply into her
personal life. At the same time she is a
true teacher who understands and nurtures each in her care, as a revered
individual. Maggie Smith starred in the
film of 1969 and won a best actor Oscar for the role.
Brodie is a complex multi faceted person
with faults of self-indulgence that are palpable. But no matter what, she must be played as
charismatic and lovable for the play to make ultimate sense. Ideally her wild and daring nature should
appeal to the adolescent in us all.
The very refined and competent acting skills
of the cast and relaxed clever Directing by Andrew Meldrum go along way to making
this production the great success it is.
Relationships and character journeys are
beautifully drawn and presented convincingly.
Most impressive is the work of Karen Hunt as Miss Jean Brodie, David
Runnalls as Teddy Lloyd and Julia Santamaria as Sandy. Hunt confidently embodies the ‘larger than
life’ character of Brody. Lloyd engages
very positively with other actors particularly through mastering a good fast
and lively tempo that is infectious. Santamaria
has a lovely transparent, perhaps naïve style that goes a long way in allowing
the audience to understand Sandy’s emotional experience and catastrophic
decisions.
As the School’s Principal Miss McKay,
Christine Walker exhibits just the right amount of principled control and
manages a very telling nervous twitch when dressing Brodie down.
Cherry Servis as Sister Helena and Mike de
Jong as Mr. Perry endorse and support the story skillfully in their framing
roles. And all other actors very
competently and charmingly embody their characters. They are all, without exception, to be
congratulated.
Kath Addicoat had done well finding
appropriate and unobtrusive costumes that support and don’t scream out look at
me.
And in response to the Director’s notes in
the program, yes, this interesting and thought provoking play did entertain me. Not only that but it left me with a lot to
mull over.
Suzanne Sandow
(For Stage Whispers)
