University Theatre kicked off its fall season with an excellent production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia. This British comedy-drama with a solid cast and well-done technical effects provides a good night of entertainment for theatregoers and casual viewers.
Set in both 1809 and present day within an English country house, the play intertwines two stories that take place in each of these time periods together.
The 1809 story follows teenage daughter Thomasina Coverly (Natalie Michelle Sherwood), an inquisitive and mathematically gifted girl with ideas well ahead of her time. Thomasina studies with tutor Septimus Hodge (Alexander Smith), a friend of an unseen houseguest Lord Byron.
In the present, a pair of modern scholars investigates Byron’s mysterious life. This pair consists of writer Hannah Jarvis (Emma Yates) and Bernard Nightingale (Jason Tyler Corder), a pompous literary professor. The two continue their investigation with the aid of a mathematical biology student named Valentine Coverly (Michael Taylor) and gradually reveal key aspects of Thomasina’s story.
Director Allison Bergman utilizes the set to provide a compelling vision to this show. The manner in which she and the production’s technical crew distinguish the two different time periods add to the overall intrigue. With precise detail devoted to the layout of the house and the various props used, Bergman does a formidable job of immersing audiences into the story.
The show’s costuming also coincides well with each setting. The upper-middle-class characters from both stories present a certain element of dignity and sophistication through their costumes.
As far as acting goes, the cast does a nice job of working together as an ensemble while also delivering solid individual performances. The male characters are primarily pompous and self-centered, which allows room for development as the story progresses. Sherwood and Smith demonstrate effective chemistry on stage, which makes for an intriguing on-stage relationship.
Yates and Corder’s shrewd remarks and overconfidence are fun to watch. In addition, it provided a basis for a subplot to unfold. Their investigation gradually turns into a rivalry between them, which adds a nice twist to the overall plot.
While the cast members’ British accents aren’t flawless, each member of the cast does an effective enough of a job with their characterization that it becomes overshadowed.
In terms of the script, the only factor which many viewers might find irritable is that it’s far too lengthy. This show is a good three hours and many scenes drag on for unnecessary portions of time. If the play was condensed to a two-hour runtime, the overall flow would likely be better maintained.
Nevertheless, Stoppard’s skill as a dramatist is as well demonstrated here as it is in his other works. Known for the absurdist satire Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, which uses characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this play also expresses his ability to deliver witty dialogue and cleverly executed thematic material.
The parallels between the 1809 story and the modern day one are perhaps the most intriguing element of the script.
Although Arcadia is a comedy and a drama, it is not laugh out loud funny throughout. While there are humorous moments, much of the play develops relationships between its characters and explores tragic themes expressed at certain moments that may surprise viewers.
While not perfect, Arcadia is effectively executed by the University Theatre department, and is the first of many other productions this season. Arcadia plays at N.C. State’s Thompson Theatre from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6 and specific show times can be found at ncsu.edu/theatre.
