LA RONDE | STAGE REVIEW
University of South Wales, Cardiff, Wed 27 Nov
Banned for over twenty years when it was initially published in 1900, Arthur Schnitzler’s Reigen, more popularly known as La Ronde, follows a chain of sexual encounters between ten couples, beginning and ending with the whore. In each scene we witness a courtship – sometimes brief, sometimes prolonged, and the moments immediately before and after sex.
The premise is promising; it gives insight into the changes wrought by the act itself whilst bringing couples together beyond the boundaries of class and social position and the cast play their characters well. To convincingly swap between each their several roles so seamlessly is impressive. Unfortunately, in the century which has passed since this play’s composition, it has not aged particularly well.
Though Schnitzler’s original intention may have been to challenge class and gender divides, La Ronde now uncomfortably reinforces stereotypes which we have moved beyond in our modern age. The men of this play are all typically upper class gentlemen, seduced by the lower class, dim playthings portrayed by the women. In almost every scene the women plead with the men to confess their affections in an apparent attempt to justify their unladylike behaviour whilst the men quite clearly lie their way into these women’s hearts – and beds.
Whilst overall the production was good, the acting solid and the choice of material fitting for Clock Tower Theatre Company who aim to ‘embrace untold work’, it was on times uncomfortable to watch yet another maid/young woman be seduced by a gentleman. Had the cast altered their portrayals to bring the material into the modern age then this would have been a brave, new production but unfortunately it didn’t quite hit the mark.
words LAUREN SOURBUTTS