Fri, Jun 01, 2001 page7

• Chemistry keeps 'MR Sloane' fresh

  It shocked critics in the 1960s, and 40 years on, Joe Orton's black humor still bites

  • By Gavin Phipps / STAFF REPORTER
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  Taipei theatre goers' will get a taste of coarse nihilistic English humor this weekend, when members of the Taipei-based amateur dramatics group, the Taipei Alien Dramatic Society (TADS), take to the stage with a performance of Joe Orton's highly acclaimed play Entertaining Mr Sloane.

  Written in 1964, three years before the play write was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in his North London flat by his homosexual lover, Kenneth Halliwell, the violent, black comedy proved highly controversial when it opened in London in the mid-1960s. The work contained levels of violence and profanity never before seen on the London stage.

  

  The cast of TADS' latest production.

  PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES

  "The dramatic equivalent of what, in painting, is called a primitive," was how renowned theatre critic Bernard Levin described the play. The UK's The Telegraph was less poetic. "Not for a long time have I disliked a play so much" was the theater critics' only comment. The play tells the sordid tale of Mr Sloane, a dapper and desirable, but completely amoral young man who takes up lodgings in a house owned by Kath, a middle-aged woman trying desperately, but failing abysmally, to cling on to the vestiges of her youth.

  Sloane proceeds to manipulate both Kath and her homosexual brother, Ed, for his own ends. The new lodger's orchestration doesn't go quite to plan, however. Sloane doesn't bargain on Kath's father, Kemp, getting in the way.

  The frail and incontinent old man recognizes Sloane as the murderer of his former employer. Events take an ugly turn, blood is shed and murder done. The murderers' "just desserts," however, are not quite what one would expect. Although written to appeal to audiences of the 1960s, director Lori Solbakken feels that the biting humor and social commentary of Entertaining Mr Sloane is still relevant today. And she remains confident that Taipei audiences will find the tale of murder, domination and evil to their liking.

  "Even though the play was originally written 30 years ago, the humor hasn't aged at all. Which is the great thing about performing a very black play, as sick senses of humor haven't changed at all. People will always laugh at others' misfortunes, however sick or twisted it may seem," explains Solbakken. "And the cast are great. I've never seen such on stage chemistry. They all fell into their rolls very quickly. Because of this the production works really well. The humor, violence and situations are very believable. Audiences will laugh and they will be alarmed."

  While there is some debate over the miscasting of popular Australian thespian Maurice Harrington as Thomas Becket in the Thalie Theatre's recent performance of T.S. Elliot's Murder In The Cathedral, there can be doubt as to his aptitude in the role of the grizzled Kemp. Harrington's characterization is both comic and disturbing.

  The role of Ed goes to Scottish trouper and TADS veteran, Rowan Hunter. Hunters' portrayal of the homosexual brother leaves little to the imagination. There's no middle ground here. Audiences will either be charmed by this character or find him simply loathsome.

  The task of portraying the aging harlot, Kath, goes to TADS newcomer, Katy Howson. While the role marks Howson's acting debut in Taiwan, she has appeared in several English television dramas. She is well cast as the abused and slightly confused Kath.

  Howson is not the only TADS newcomer to be gracing the stage of the Lily Cafe this weekend. Although making his acting debut, Stew Dougals' portrayal of the cold calculating, psychotic killer is larger than life. The novice's Mr Sloane is not a person whom you'd want to be alone.

  Unlike previous TADS productions, Entertaining Mr Sloane is for adult audiences only, as the play contains both violence and foul language.

  Performance Note:

  What: Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton.

  Who: Taipei Alien Dramatic Society.(TADS)

  When: Tomorrow and Sunday; June 9-10. All performances begin at 8pm.

  Where: Lily Cafe, 82 , Ningpo E. St., Taipei. (北市寧波西街82號)

  Tickets: NT$200 at the door.
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