Lovers at Versailles not what it seems
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 2003.
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Since this misunderstanding is debated early in the play, the above information will not detract from any appreciation of the story line. In fact, it may reassure would-be theatregoers that the play is not some period piece set in the court of Louis XIV. On the contrary, while some of its themes, such as sibling exploitation and spousal communication, are as old as the Bible, Lovers premiered just last year at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It is precisely this timelessness that attracted Bill and Wendy Bewley to the script. "It's a universal story about family members not quite listening to each other. And interspersed is this lovely comedy," Bill commented before a recent rehearsal.
The play was brought to his attention by someone who had just seen it at the Abbey and knew of his involvement with the Drama Society.
After receiving a copy, Bill said, he started reading and couldn't stop until the end because he wanted to see how the story turned out. He wasn't disappointed. A bonus was the setting: "In Ireland, in an area I know well," Bill added.
When CDS began planning this year's productions, he and Wendy proposed Lovers at Versailles by Bernard Farrell as a play they would be interested in codirecting.
The couple had already established their acting credentials locally. Wendy was the dominant mother in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and the poison-bearing maid in MagnaCarta. Bill was the man who befriended Little Voice; he also portrayed the forcibly retired priest in Dancing at Lughnasa before being elevated to bishop in Magna Carta.
Lovers at Versailles marks their directorial debut in Cayman, but they have directed elsewhere. One such effort was the play April Bryce by Dermot Bulger which, as Bill relates, he was obligated to leave the week before opening because of a new job. Wendy carried on and the transition was apparently seamless.
Bill became active in theatre while he was at school. Wendy was introduced it while still in the womb: she reports that both her parents were involved in theatre, with her father producing plays.
The couple has lived in England (Liverpool), then Ireland, then back to Liverpool before moving to Keswick in Cumbria before coming to Cayman some 18 months ago.
"Every time I move to a new place I say I'm not getting involved in drama," Wendy confessed. But the pull is obviously there. The Cayman Drama Society provides opportunity for "a mixture of directing and acting that's perfect-it's a real kick," Bill confirmed for both.
Reading a script and bringing it to life provides tremendous satisfaction. "We're lucky with this [Lovers at Versailles]. We haven't seen it done by anyone else," he pointed out.
Another theatrical high comes from working together: "The whole cast feels part of the team," Bill said.
That cast includes Peter Kosa as the shopkeeper father and Sue Horrocks as his frustrated wife [Some reviews refer to this character as a harridan.] Janine Moss is their younger daughter Isobel, whose boyfriend/husband is played by Gerard McGeough, a newcomer to the Cayman stage. Elder daughter Anna, the central character, is played by Sharon Thompson. Peter O'Sullivan is David, her suitor.
Rounding out the cast are Lynda Redfern, Louise Rigdon and Hannah Wiley. Phil Pace is producer.
Lovers at Versailles was scheduled to open last night at the Prospect Playhouse, continuing Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday through 5 July. Tickets are $15. Reservations may be made by calling Omeria at 949-5054. As always, curtain time is 7.30 pm.
