Business as usual for the Library Theatre - Arcadia review (From Messenger Newspapers)

Business as usual for the Library Theatre - Arcadia review

10:48am Monday 27th September 2010 in Theatre Reviews By Rick Bowen

THE Library Theatre may have moved into a temporary new base at the Lowry, but it’s business as usual as far as their latest production is concerned.

Director Chris Honer has managed to make Arcadia, a marathon for the intellect, into a very accessible evening out.

That’s no mean feat, because Tom Stoppard’s play is stuffed full of ideas about, among other things, the certainty of knowledge. If you think that sounds terribly dry you’d be way off the mark, as the writer handles his subject matter in a way that stimulates and challenges his audiences.

When I left the Lowry I felt like my brain had just been worked hard, but you know what they say, hard work never hurt anyone. As with sporting marathons, you feel drained afterwards but the experience is a rewarding and uplifting one, and you’ll feel the same as you leave the Lowry.

The action flits between 1809 and the present day and takes place in a grand country house in Derbyshire. It may have been the scene of a sexual fling involving the poet Lord Byron. However, there’s much more to this rich, deep and poignant piece than suspected bed hopping.

Altrincham actor Peter Barich (pictured) aquits himself really well as Captain Brice and I also enjoyed James Wallace as the academic with the inflated ego, Bernard Nightingale.

* Until October 9 at the Lowry. The box office is on 0843 208 6010 or you can book online at www.librarytheatre.com Star rating - ****