Normally one expects an Oscar Wilde performance to be of good comedic value – plenty of cheekiness and wit to go around. And whilst this performance of An Ideal Husband did maintain some of those values, the more entertaining fact was that the actors were all English as a Foreign Language students. Given that Wilde’s plays poke fun at the quintessentially English aristocrat lifestyle, there was tremendous comedic irony in the fact that the actors were all relatively accented, hailing from Spain, Brazil, Italy, Korea and Mexico. Having spent the past three weeks in a language/drama workshop, this performance of An Ideal Husband was their pièce de resistance.
Despite a few rather awkward lapses in memory in terms of lines and odd pronunciations, you couldn’t help but want to cheer them on. Even though they were working in a language that they weren’t necessarily comfortable in, some of the actors displayed real skill in terms of performance and emotion, and were at ease on stage. Their delivery was generally quite clear and the plot easy to follow, which was a real achievement.
Jorge Escartin (Spain) as Lord Arthur Goring was a terribly entertaining lazy aristocrat and Fabio Mandonca (Brazil) surprisingly convincing as British politician Sir Robert Chiltern, even with a Portuguese accent. Elisa Caldarola (Italy) played an appropriately emotional Lady Gertrude Chiltern, whilst Regina Jean (Mexico) was delightful as Miss Mabel Chiltern. Sulki Song (Korea) was fantastically devious (and articulate) as Mrs Laura Cheverly. An of course, Melinda Allan was not only excellent in the role of Lady Caversham, but also as the director of the performance.
It’s definitely an unusual take on Wilde, but a good bit of fun and a glimpse into what all those EFL students are doing here every summer.
This was a one off performance, however ACT 1 English regularly puts on performances at the OFS as part of their EFL programme.
Despite a few rather awkward lapses in memory in terms of lines and odd pronunciations, you couldn’t help but want to cheer them on. Even though they were working in a language that they weren’t necessarily comfortable in, some of the actors displayed real skill in terms of performance and emotion, and were at ease on stage. Their delivery was generally quite clear and the plot easy to follow, which was a real achievement.
Jorge Escartin (Spain) as Lord Arthur Goring was a terribly entertaining lazy aristocrat and Fabio Mandonca (Brazil) surprisingly convincing as British politician Sir Robert Chiltern, even with a Portuguese accent. Elisa Caldarola (Italy) played an appropriately emotional Lady Gertrude Chiltern, whilst Regina Jean (Mexico) was delightful as Miss Mabel Chiltern. Sulki Song (Korea) was fantastically devious (and articulate) as Mrs Laura Cheverly. An of course, Melinda Allan was not only excellent in the role of Lady Caversham, but also as the director of the performance.
It’s definitely an unusual take on Wilde, but a good bit of fun and a glimpse into what all those EFL students are doing here every summer.
This was a one off performance, however ACT 1 English regularly puts on performances at the OFS as part of their EFL programme.