REVIEW: A Room With A View at Belvoir St
Review by Michelle Sutton
A Room With A View now playing at Belvoir St Theatre is adapted from the novel written by E.M Forster in 1908. The novel is a favourite of many for its love story and its clever coming-of-age story centred on the heroine, Lucy Honeychurch. The script has been adapted from the novel by Grace Chapple who has bravely extrapolated on some of the subtext in the original book and brought some of its lightly explored themes further out into the light. Hannah Goodwin directs this heartfelt and lively production.
The ensemble work beautifully together in this play. Nathalie Morris plays the protagonist Lucy Honeychurch with an innocence and restless spirit. It is through Lucy that we see the world and Morris does a wonderful job of this responsibility as she believably struggles and grows throughout the length of the play. Charles Wu plays a fabulously agitating and pretentious Cecil Vyse and Hayley McElhinny gives a funny, multi-faceted, commanding performance as the somewhat overbearing yet misunderstood Charlotte. Tom Conroy is delightfully awkward and earnest as pastor Mr Beebe. Luke Wiltshire delivers a beautiful and intriguing performance as the quietly rebellious and charismatic George Emerson. The cast is rounded out by Tomáš Kantor who plays Lucy’s free-spirited brother Freddy and Patrick Williams who plays the part of Mr Emerson, a man whose great kindness and perceptiveness can come across as off-putting to those unused to it.
Zoë Atkinson’s set design is simple and thoughtful, allowing the view to change according to the time and place. The windows at the back of the stage are the centrepiece of the production design and function as gateways to different chapters of Lucy’s story. Amelia Lever-Davidson’s light design is beautiful and provides one of the most stunning moments in the show, when the stage transforms into a field of intoxicating violets. Madeleine Picard’s smart sound design ties the world together.
It is evident that this play was conjured up and created by people who love theatre. There is a sense of joy in the way that theatrical conventions are utilised to bring the audience into Lucy’ world. Lighting, music and the acting ensemble create moments of pure delight and whimsy, with surprising light-hearted moments of playfulness with audience interaction and a projector. There are little flecks of live theatre dispersed throughout the show which illustrate the success of the partnership between the illuminating gift of a wonderful adaptation by Grace Chapple and imaginative direction from Hannah Goodwin.
Belvoir St Theatre’s production of A Room With A View is a stunning, sweeping, funny and tender take on a literary classic. The play showcases strong writing, stunning production design and bold and honest performances from an extremely talented ensemble of actors.
A Room With A View at Belvoir St Theatre is a tender and moving play. It is filled to the brim with a gentle optimism, sense of wonder and a call to question the traditions, rules and beliefs we inherit. It is a smart and sincere take on a classic novel and is sure to be more than satisfying for big fans of the book as well as an absolute treat for all fans of theatre.
