Jaine Blackman says English Touring Theatre’s production gives audiences an entertaining evening

Those who lived in the original Arcadia were noted for their innocent pastoral life of simplicity yet Tom Stoppard’s play is anything but straightforward.

Switching between the early 19th century and modern day, it’s — above all — clever. Clever in the intellectual nature of its characters and subject matter, but also intelligent enough not to alienate its audiences who may not be so well versed in mathematical iteration and the Romantic poets as to follow all the dialogue.

Set in an English country house, the current family and two sparring modern scholars who are visiting to do research are juxtaposed with those who lived there in the earlier period.

The play deals with the relationship between past and present, order and disorder, certainty and uncertainty.

In 1809, Thomasina Coverly, the teenage daughter of the house, studies with tutor Septimus Hodge, a friend of Lord Byron (a guest in the house but unseen). She comes up with advanced mathematical theories, while intrigues unfold around her.

In the present, writer Hannah Jarvis is investigating a hermit who once lived on the grounds and literature professor Bernard Nightingale is researching a mysterious chapter in the life of Byron.

With the help of Valentine Coverly, a post-graduate student in mathematical biology, what happened in Thomasina’s time is gradually revealed to them, while the audience sees what really happened first hand.

For all the word play and posturing, these are characters whose emotions shine through and who deliver enough, seemingly throwaway, witty remarks to keep those watching chuckling and feeling in on the joke, even if they don’t quite grasp the intricacies of chaos theory. Or maybe that was just me.

The packed audience at the Oxford Playhouse certainly seemed to enjoy this production of Arcadia, ably directed by Blanche McIntyre and presented by the English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Brighton.

The cast of 12, largely unknown actors, included some very novice performers but you wouldn’t have known.

Ed MacArthur, making his professional stage debut as Valentine — one of the three modern day, upper class Coverly children in whose country house the action takes place — gave a relaxed and assured performance worthy of an old timer.

Dakota Blue Richards as the precocious Thomasina seamlessly made the switch from on-screen roles (Lyra Belacqua in the film The Golden Compass and Franky Fitzgerald in the TV series Skins) to stage.

Other noteworthy performances were turned in by Flora Montgomery as the feisty writer Hannah, Robert Cavanah as the arrogant, womanising don Bernard, Kirsty Besterman as the indomitable Lady Croon and Wilf Scolding, who was a particularly appealing Septimus Hodge.

The set was simple but effective as were lighting and costumes.

It all combined for an entertaining, thought-provoking performance… even though I’m no clearer about the second law of thermodynamics.

Arcadia
Oxford Playhouse
Until Saturday
Tickets priced from £11-£26.50
Box office: 01865 305305