"The
Magistrate" is set in Victorian London. When the widowed Agatha Posket (Nancy
Carroll) meets a respectable magistrate (John Lithgow) and agrees to marry him,
she knocks five years off her age. In consequence, her 19-year-old son, Cis
(Joshua McGuire), is made to pass for an unusually forward 14-year-old.
And this
has unfortunate repercussions when the smoking, gambling Cis takes his upright
stepfather for a dinner to a slightly shady hotel only to find his mother and
aunt turning up at the same establishment. A police raid on the place forces
the magistrate to make a narrow escape. When he turns up at court the next
morning, battered and bruised, he has to pass judgement on his partners in
crime which turn out to be his wife and sister-in-law.
I’ve known
John Lithgow from the comedy show "Third Rock from the Sun", which I enjoyed
very much. He didn’t disappoint my expectations on stage. He was outright funny
in the role of the Magistrate with perfect timing for the punchlines. Nancy
Carroll was also wonderful as the wife who ends up in distress by her own
doing.
The stage
design was marvellous. The four sets were arranged like a pop-up book and there
were musical interludes while the stage was switched to the next set.
During
intermission a short film was shown about the rehearsals and preparation of the
play. While that offered interesting background information, it also showed
parts from the second act, which gave way a bit of the surprises yet to come.
There was also wine and snacks offered in the lobby during intermission just as
if you were really attending the theatre. Overall, a great opportunity to experience
British theatre without having to travel.
The next
play that will be broadcast live is Alan Bennett’s "People" on March 21, 2013. I’ll
probably go again.
