Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 4

Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’

“Miss Jolie,” by August Strindberg, directed by Julie Brown for the Common Theatre Troupe. Presented at the Peterborough Centre. From June 23. Running time: 8.15 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. Reviewed by John Farnsworth.

The Common Theatre Troupe is a company new to Christchurch, using obviously limited resources, they have managed to create simple but effective surroundings for intimate theatre.

In this respect, “Miss Julie” was an eminently suitable first choice, requiring the minimum of technical equipment and, apart from one scene, a tiny cast The only exception to this simplicity was the play’s presentation as a detailed costume drama.

The play itself, because it is a deceptively difficult one to perform successfully, was a brave choice. Although the plot is straightforward enough, the atmosphere and characterisation are both shifting and complex, and require a sureness of touch which was not always present

The play’s dynamics revolve round a single action: the brief liaison of Miss Julie (Kristen Gillespie) and her father’s servant Jean (Bill Direen). But is is the differences in sex and class, as well as their opposing characters which produces both the fluctuating relations of power between them, and the tension in the play. In this production, the characterisation and motives were very clearly

laid out, but often the necessary intensity to propel the drama was absent, largely, however, it is just a matter of extending the obvious Btence of the actors to e the charged emoclimate.

That aside, Bill Direen and Kisten Gillepsie respond well to each other, but need to highlight the alternating magnetism and repulsion between them. Nonetheless, his petty conceits and ambition and her contrariness are ably portrayed. Carol Woodward

gives them solid support as

With more confidence, and deservedly bigger audiences than the meagre five first-nighters, this could become the absorbing production it has the potential to be.