Review: Travesties

As published in the Sun-Herald.

Travesties
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Until 25 April
Tickets $30-$85
Bookings (02) 9250 1777
Critic’s Rating 7/10


There’s no plot to speak of, it copies the comic genius of Oscar Wilde and is set in the rather colourless world of Zurich – but Travesties, by revered British playwright Tom Stoppard, is a gregarious and witty romp that fictionalises an accidental meeting of Lenin, Irish writer James Joyce and avant-garde artist Tristan Tzara, according to British diplomat Henry Carr.

Be warned: it you don’t know much about these historical figures or aren’t familiar with Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, then Travesties is a bit like having your head banged by a very large book for a couple of hours.

First produced in 1974, this early play of Stoppard has his intellectual genius on show as he bounces around ideas on the importance of art in civilised society.

Expertly directed by Richard Cottrell and with an extraordinary costume and set design from Julie Lynch and Michael Scott-Mitchell, this production is fresh and entertaining with a wonderful cast, especially Jonathan Biggins as the bumbling Carr.