When characters in a play ask each other, more than once, "What do you think of the modern girl?" you sense that the expected answer could well be on the lines of not a lot.
The girl in question, typified by Gilda, does have to spend a lot of time in silken nighties, and has affairs with at least three men. The shock value of this to 1932 audiences is hard to imagine now.
Sudbury Dramatic Society's production of Noel
Coward's arch classic examines this precious world of Gilda, Leo and Otto. Their lives are divided between New York, Paris and sea-going freighters, the latter providing a refuge where wounded male egos, unhindered by the modern girl, can mend.
Stacy Plumb brought Gilda right up to date as the young adventurous society woman for whom marriage has no appeal. Her confident handling of the role was impressive, and the feisty ease with which she dismissed her men in turn was charming.
Michael Fouldes and Peter Drew, as Leo and Otto respectively, played the rival lovers demanding, and receiving, Gilda's favours. The humour of their situation rose above the vicious bickering of the first part of the play, and developed in the faster-paced second half.
Thrown together by Gilda's rejection of them in favour of the rich but dull Ernest, their witty double act lightened the atmosphere as they pursued Gilda to a fairly predictable ending. They skilfully redeemed some of the darker aspects of the play.
The sexual insecurities, jealousies and sarcasms of this motley trio don't make the ideal design for living, as the cleaner noticed. Linda Dowdall's Mrs Hodges did, however, take it all in her stride, along with the intrusion of the new-fangled telephone.
The telephone's frequent ringing didn't improve peoples' manners, but linked the plot to a rather unpleasant sounding outside world, where other people were also bickering and scrambling for the glittering life. Robert Crighton's sensitive direction showed up the false values in this set-piece comedy of manners.
The Quay Theatre's audience certainly enjoyed the story of this particular modern girl, and admired the consummate skills brought to the story by their own Dramatic Society. We look forward to their next challenge, The Forsyte Saga, in November.
© Mary Dunk, 2008.
