The Man of Mode - June 21st 2011

Despite living in Cardiff this is my 3rd visit to the Bridewell Theatre, to be found just off Fleet Street. Lunchbox Theatre regularly produce little-known restoration plays between one and two o'clock week-day afternoons purely designed to entertain an office lunchtime clientele. I make no apologies for repeating my claim that this simple idea is nothing short of inspired and deservedly receives large and appreciative audiences.

Their current offering is the 300 year old " Man Of Mode" by George Etherege revived quite recently by the National Theatre with Tom Hardy in the lead role. Most restoration comedies are extremely complicated and naturally out-dated. This version took the simple yet brilliant step of up-dating the references and language where appropriate. This immediately involves a modern audience as well as providing a lot of humour with our current obsession with lap-tops, mobile phones, " giving skin" ( sadly by selecting a front row I was required to touch hands & then kiss them better) and modern patois etc.

The plot basically revolves around Dorimant, a notorious ( and not very secretive) womaniser, his attempts to seduce as many women as possible and the exploits of Bellair betrothed by his father when he naturally loves another woman. There are no surprises that that by the end everything is ( speedily) resolved and all are conveniently happy with their lot.

But you don't want doom and gloom over lunch, you want to be entertained and this company fully succeeds in that respect. Gavin Harrison is suitably swaggering and self-confident in the main role with all the supporting roles doing well in their parts. Easily the showiest part is the title character, Sir Fopling Flutter as an over-excited Michael McIntyre with an American accent, which frankly has to be seen to be believed.

Cramming a full-length play into less than an hour allows director Jo Kennedy to use her initiative with asides delivered to the audience, whilst actors on stage are frozen in hysterical poses and using the moments when people are finding their seats to allow the actors to show their characters silently.

Sadly, the play ends on Friday but if you fancy a fun lunch-hour head to the Bridewell Theatre, you won't be disappointed.