Educating Agnes

It’s been three years since Liz Lochhead’s Educating Agnes was premiered by theatre babel. That original production received mixed notices, but almost everyone highly complemented Lochhead’s translation of Moliere’s classic comedy, The School for Wives.

Lochhead’s adaptation works just as well now as it did back then. The script is peppered with sharp and witty lines painted in a Scots hue while maintaining the original story and characters. It’s an excellent adaptation of an excellent comedy.

There is much to like in Tony Cownie’s new production. Hayden Griffin’s set is an artwork in itself, a street scene straight out of an Impressionist’s painting, and John Harris’ lighting and Philip Pinksy’s sound add great ambiance. Cownie has a knack for creating funny visuals, and here he serves up clever staging and several post-modern moments that earn laughs.

Cownie has also assembled an impressive ensemble. Kathryn Howden and Steven McNicoll have a blast as servants Georgette and Alain, while Mark Prendergast makes the dopey Horace into a loveable young sap.

Peter Forbes and Nicola Roy, however, have the most difficult roles, and they both perform well. Arnolphe is a hard nut to crack: he’s the villain, but, as his plan to marry his ward Agnes is the main action, he must carry the entire production, and Forbes does an admirable job.

Agnes is equally difficult in that she is supposed to be naïve having spent her life sheltered from the outside world. Rather than playing her foolishly, Roy’s Agnes is frustrated with her lack of experience, which makes her desire to break from Arnolphe’s guardianship all the more believable.

If there is a flaw, it can be found in the production’s timing. It’s not exactly wrong, just a bit off. Farce depends on perfect synchronicity, yet most of this production seems as if everything is one or two beats too fast or slow. After a few extra runs this may tighten up, but it wasn’t quite there on opening night.

A shame, because it has all the right ingredients to be a great production.