FIVE STARS

 

The RSC has itself a smasheroo in the gleefully smutty version of Thomas Middleton’s A Mad World My Masters. This superbly acted revival does for Middleton (Queen’s, Oxford) what the National Theatre did for Carlo Goldoni in One Man, Two Guvnors. For me, the result is much funnier.

The director is Stratford debutant Sean Foley (Pegasus, Oxford), a big name in knockabout humour. He calls the 1608 play “the filthiest comedy ever written” and with fellow editor Phil Porter has laboured to ensure that none of the mightily mucky jokes is lost to the modern audience.

They transform the character called Short-Rod Harebrain, for instance, into the far more graspable — in one sense if not the other — Littledick (Steffan Rhodri).

As might be inferred from this name, Littledick’s missus (Ellie Beaven) is not entirely content in her sex life. Cue for Penitent Brothel (John Hopkins) to supply the shortfall. Their eager coupling is hilariously presented. Littledick, fearing his wife’s infidelity, is delighted when a ‘spiritual advisor’ Truly Kidman (Sarah Ridgeway) appears to be keeping her on the straight and narrow. Kidman, in fact, is herself a prostitute, who facilitates a meeting between the lovers, then helps to pass off Mrs L’s howls of pleasure as fervent expressions of religious ecstasy for the benefit of the eavesdropping cuckold.

As pimped by her harpy of a mum (Ishia Bennison), Kidman supplies the point of connection (sorry!) to the other principal plot strand.

She is mistress to the filthy rich — both adjectives apply — Sir Bounteous Peersucker (Ian Redford). This fornicating flagellant spends freely on all save his nephew, Dick Follywit (Richard Goulding, left). But helped by sidekicks Sponger (Ben Deery) and Oboe (Harry McEntire), Follywit appeals to Peersucker’s snobbery and lust to relieve him of dosh, first in the disguise of a lord then as a high-class tart.

Funniest of all, though, is Dick’s final pose as an actor. Having borrowed his uncle’s gold chain, watch and jewel for ‘props’, he scarpers but is brought back by a policeman (Dwane Walcott). Alas, the officer’s efforts are wasted: all take him to be a stage cop, a character in the thesps’ trendy modern play.

Modern? Yes. The updating is to the mid-1950s, with a super jazz score and songs by smoky voiced Linda John-Pierre that exactly match (Big Long Slidin’ Thing) the salacious tone of the piece.

 

Swan Theatre, Stratford
Until October 25
0844 8001110 rsc.org.uk