The Adventures Of Tom Jones
About the Production
Back in 1746, when Henry Fielding’s ‘Tom Jones’ was first published, there was an uproar amongst polite society. Why? Because Fielding’s biting satire painted a very unlovely picture indeed. Polite society was, in fact, anything but! Fielding’s masterwork wasn’t just a hatchet-job though. It was brilliantly funny, a rollicking comedy tale told over two hundred chapters (!), intricately plotted and with probably as many characters. There was depth too, with Fielding using the smokescreen of humour to discourse long and loud on such subjects as politics, philosophy, morality and religion.
All of which may be wonderful for a quiet Sunday afternoon’s reading, but for a dramatic evening’s entertainment, it just won’t do. What we want, nay, what we need, is a full-blown eighteenth century romp, full of colourful costumes and no less colourful characters, so with apologies to Mr Fielding, he’s been rather hijacked.
Into the heady mix have been brought characters and situations from other playwrights, whose swagger matches the feel and atmosphere of the base material. George Farqhuar provides the landlord Boniface and the roguish highwayman Gibbett for instance, both characters and situation taken from ‘The Beaux Stratagem’ (with just a dash of MacHeath from John Gay’s ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ of 1728). The recruiting sergeant’s opening speech is taken from Farqhuar’s ‘The Recruiting Officer’, and if Farqhuar’s highwayman is infinitely better character than Fielding’s own take, then the two recruiting sergeants are strangely similar. The rascally recruiters may possibly have a been a familiar stereotype and both authors took delight in playing with it.
So, literary fidelity you don’t get. A number of Fielding’s characters have been merged, others ejected wholly. What you do get is an evocative venture into eighteenth century England, following Tom Jones as he looks to find his fortune, leaving his numerous indiscretions behind him and with bold new exploits tantalisingly awaiting just over the next sun-lit hill. Enjoy.
The Cast
Behind the Scenes
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The Reviews
Watch Out For Jones - Four Stars
This is a roistering, robust, raunchy rendering of Henry Fielding’s novel, adapted for the stage by the director Richard Lloyd, who also manages to play two parts. It is performed with pace, panache and purpose by Theatre Workshop Coulsdon. I marvelled at the speed of the scene changes, the set constructed for multi-purposes and the way the actors went about the timing of entrances and exits.
there are 31 characters in the play and of necessity nine actors play two parts without us being aware that this is happening. They are helped by the excellent costumes, wigs and other disguises but succeed mainly on ability. If you want to learn the business of Am-Dram, this is a group to join.
Tom Jones (Chris Blakeney) is the sort of foundling that many young ladies might be pleased to romp in the hay with, and none better than Emma Rose as Molly Seagrim. Her impish grin and well-defined figure has us laughing, if disapprovingly, at her antics.
Steve North as the schoolmaster Mr Thwackum is a bigot of bigots while Chris Argles as Mr Allworthy, Tom’s guardian, is honour personified. Mike Brown is an excellent recruiting sergeant, and a splendidly foppish Lord Felamar. But what a nasty piece of work is Mr Blifil (Luke Argles) as Tom’s enemy and Allworthy’s nephew, forcing his attentions on our heroine, the delightful Sophia Western (Louisa Cowling). How she could have that blustering, Somerset-accented bully, for a father (Howard Payne) I do not know; she must have taken after her mother.
There is a splendid sword fight between two dangerous rapiers, wielded by Tom and the highwayman, Gibbet (Richard Llloyd) and I am pleased to say that neither sword is damaged.
All the ladies are most attractive. Mrs Waters (Nicky Greene), who luckily turned out not to be Tom’s mother, Cherry (Sarah Palmer) the landlord’s available daughter, Mrs Fitzpatrick (Tanya Allison) an errant wife, and the easy to bribe chambermaid Susan (Lucy-Ann Martin). The whole plot depends on coincidences and other odd happenings, but then how could it be otherwise in the glorious age of reason? The programme notes state, incidentally, that notable characters from other 18th and 19th century writings have been incorporated to add spice and vigour, without apparently damaging the original.
Peter Steptoe for The Croydon Advertiser, Friday August 2 2002
Tom's comedy is a real lust for life
Theatre Workshop Coulsdon excelled themselves, each and every one, with The Adventures of Tom Jones at The Woodman, Woodmansterne, on Wednesday night. That was the day of torrential rain and thunderstorms, and it really was a case of ‘The Show Must Go On!’ – safety permitting.
Henry Fielding’s raunchy comedy was adapted adroitly by Richard Lloyd for a cast of over thirty, and presented with lashings of rich humour and a feast of fabulous costumes. having trimmed the fat off of the original story, we had a lean plot, cracking along at a jolly pace. What a romp it was! The adaptable set of doors provided a hayloft, jail, bedroom, kitchen, parlour… you name it, it could be it, even the damp-swollen sticking door added to the fun of the performance.
Tom Jones (Chris Blakeney) was a sweet rogue and cut a dash in his leather breeches. No wonder so many of the wenches lusted after him. I loved Molly Seagrim (Emma Rose), wailing and weeping as her ‘morals’ are revealed, her zealous lust for life almost landing her in the workhouse. Perfectly cast, Ms Rose gave a well-rounded performance. Sophia Western (Louisa Cowling) was the delicate heroine of the piece. She seemed to strut a little in an unladylike fashion, but Ms Cowling was pretty and precise. Her father, the larger than life Squire Western was played OTT by Howard Payne. With a voice that sounded like Long John Silver and so many ‘My arse!’ expletives, I think his body may have been invaded (I think she rather means ‘possessed’. Being physically ‘invaded’ conjures up a very different and possibly unwholesome image – Editor) by Ricky Tomlinson! But in the nature of this play he got away with it. Great stuff!
Some dashing sword fights, lots of farcical thrills with doors opening and shutting; dangerous liaisons being uncovered by the swish of a bedroom curtain; plots and sub plots revealed little by little, the adventure reached its happy conclusion. Special mentions for Nicky Greene as a superbly seductive Mrs Jenny Waters; Lucy-Ann Martin for her portrayal of the simple but sneaky chambermaid Susan, and Luke Argles for being such a creepy cad as Mr Blifil and holding the whole madcap plot together as the honourable gentleman Mr Allworthy, Tom’s guardian. (Some confusion here. Luke Argles did play Mr Blifil, but it was his father, Chris Argles, who played Mr Allworthy – Editor) A happy toast to them all!
Christine van Ernst for The Croydon Guardian, August 7 2002
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