'Around the World in 80 Days' Review
Venue: Merrist Wood, Guildford
Dates: 13th – 16th July 2022
OUR VERDICT:
The Guildbury's open-air production of 'Around the World in 80 Days', based on Jules Verne's fantasy/adventure novel, is a miracle of invention and wit.
With only his powerful faith in Bradshaw's Railway Guide (the Bible of Victorian travellers), £20,000 in cash, and his faithful manservant Jean Passepartout, Phileas Fogg, a wealthy, routine-bound businessman, sets off to win a wager and prove to his friends that he can travel around the world using steam and locomotive power (there was no air flight at the time, despite the 20th century Disney movie of the story).
There are many complicated diversions en route and a surprise at the end.
A huge undertaking — almost equal in its demands to those met by Eddie Woolrich, Guildbury's director of this adaptation for the theatre by American playwright Laura Eason.
Wisely following her advice on staging such a long and eventful journey, he creates London, Paris, Brindisi, Bombay, Hongkong, San Francisco and the boats and trains (and an elephant) between them in true theatrical style.
They’re conjured up using the simplest of props, the most assured acting and the wittiest stage management.
The two main characters are brilliantly brought to life by Richard Copperwaite as Phileas Fogg and Joe Hall as Passepartout.
Written by a Frenchman, Phileas Fogg is a parody of British 19th colonialism: pedantic, stiff, humourless, arrogant, prejudiced and blinkered to all but his goal to succeed — but not totally immune to modifying his outlook through encounters with the world outside Britain.
Copperwaite carries this role off with tremendous commitment, contrasting perfectly with Joe Hall's Passepartout, who is the archetypal opposite, always open to new encounters and experiences, and easily distracted!
Joe's performance as a victim of a Chinese drug den is priceless, as are his rash interventions when his master is threatened and his gormless bewilderment in other tight spots.
As the bungling Scotland Yard detective following Fogg, Jonathan Arundel is an excellent parody of the English - always sportingly admitting 'I deserved that' when Passepartout knocks him down! — and Amie Felton as Mrs Aouda, the Indian widow they rescue in Bombay, is suitably mild-mannered.
The ensemble company gives tireless support to the central characters, as gentlemen, citizens of the various cities they visit, sailors, ruffians, bureaucrats, and consuls.
There are wonderful moments of comedy and wit. The elephant ride stands out for me, as does the 'human pyramid' that Passepartout demonstrates as a circus performer.
The fight scenes are great, and Fogg becoming a 'man of action' in a storm at sea is memorably funny. I also loved a brief, witty reference to the red hot-air balloon in the Disney film.
In one of the hottest July weeks of this century, we picnicked, laughed and thoroughly enjoyed this immersion in true theatre.
There may be some tickets left — why not grab some of them and journey to Merrist Wood grounds this week to join in the fun?
Tickets: https://www.guildburys.com/guidburys-picnic-theatre-around-the-world-in-80-daysjuly-13-16/
