The Rover

Hunter Production's version of 'The Rover' opens surprisingly sedately, given the action that follows. Florinda (Abby Forknall) is in whispered conversation with her kinswoman Valeria (Bethany Simpson), presumably about Belville, Florinda's beloved. They're interrupted by Florinda's brother Don Pedro (David Furlong), who, like her father is anxious to marry her well, i.e., profitably for themselves. For this is not a Spain of the imagination so much as Aphra Behn's own country, where love struggles to conquer money and men and women struggle for each other's hearts (and other parts as well).

Largely forgotten except by theatre historians such as Allardyce Nicol till a new generation led by Fidelis Morgan championed them, women playwrights of the late seventeenth century, of whom Behn remains the most known, had a sharp and shrewd eye for the marriage market of their day. Their subtle yet steely feminist take on the world may well have ensured their long obscurity and the deprecation their work has suffered from 'respectable' critics.

Florinda and Valeria don disguise and head out into the carnival going on in their city, oblivious to the English 'gentlemen' who have also been drawn to it. Belville (James Ronan), unsurprisingly, is of their number, along with Willmore (Tom Hunter), 'The Rover' of the title, Fredrick (Duncan Barret) and Blunt (Robert Shilton). Disguise leads predictably to confusion, and in the case of Blunt, to a deeply deserved downfall which in turn provokes an attempt at brutal revenge leading to revelation and reconciliation.

'The Rover' is perhaps one of Aphra Behn's most tightly constructed comedies, and although the cast are largely recent graduates, they acquit themselves extremely well.

The smaller stage of C3, designed as a Masonic chapel, limits the scope available for the romps, brawls, alarums and excursions called for in the script, but a well-directed cast make the very best they can of the restrictions, and play consistently throughout.

Theirs is very genuinely ensemble playing, and it would therefore be invidious to single out individual performances; they are nevertheless actors one hopes to see again in Edinburgh or elsewhere.

The previous rating regime of this website measured the number of drams required to get through the show being reviewed (no drams meant a superb show, five one that failed by any standard). 'The Rover' would in this reviewer's estimate have been a two dram show - i.e., between three and four stars in common Fringe rating. He can only hope Hunter Productions do not feel three stars diminishes their obvious hard work and enthusiasm.

Time: 6.15 pm, 2-27 August

Copyright: Bill Dunlop. Published on EdinburghGuide.com, 2007