ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA STUDENT PRODUCTION

EASY VIRTUE

NOEL COWARD

Novenber 29 2013

It is always a gamble to buy art at a graduate art college show, but it is also a buzz. It is also a buzz to see drama students strutting their stuff pre-graduation; last night I saw a star being born, I wish I could buy shares in her career!

I attended a Royal Central School of Speech and Drama production of Noel Coward’s subversive play, Easy Virtue, and found much virtue in the production and direction (by Orange Tree veteran Auriol Smith) and in the acting by the college’s BA (Hons) acting students.

This type of fully produced play is an opportunity for a young star to shine and Imogen Sage in the female lead as the exotic Larita didn’t disappoint.

It is a well crafted, integrated role, but really much of the play depends on the performance of the principal; the plot fawns around her exotica and diva mood swings and Ms Sage was truly magnificent – her (slightly foreign) accent was impeccable, her diction perfect, her delivery was - at times - electrifying and her stage presence was enough to quell the wonderfully opposing hostess of this country house piece played majestically by another rising star, Christa Engelbrecht.

I must also mention Maeve O’Sullivan for a wonderfully funny, bouncy entrance as the star-struck Hilda.

Shaun Traynor
London Life scoop it