An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband is presented by WAAPA 3rd Year Acting Students, in their last full scale performance as a cohort, and is designed, built and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design Students.

This 126 year old play is adapted for a modern audience, with the themes of political corruption, but also identity, truth and forgiveness, just as relevant today. The opening scenes are Victorian England meets dance party, and this show’s look and theme are very much testament to director Priscilla Jackman working very closely with student designers to create a fresh and interesting take on Wilde’s second-most-popular play. Highly stylised - especially in the opening scene - this is not Grandma’s Wilde. This takes a few minutes to get used to, which means that the opening scene, which has some key exposition, is a little overwhelming, after which the show hits its stride.

Gabrielle Clarke’s set design uses modular units to create separate rooms and spaces, which are moved around by performers Mariama Whitton, Justin Bell, Alexander Dilley, Lachlan Stevenson and Jonathon Lagudi with precision and panache. Peter Young’s lighting design, skilled throughout, is particularly clever in its lighting of these tiny spaces. Noah Ivulich’s modern, bold and eclectic sound design adds atmosphere, with Matthew Raven’s colour coded costuming a bright and brilliant touch.

Standout performers include Kaya Jarrett’s dignified and idealistic Lady Chiltern, working beautifully with Kyle Barrett as the conflicted and pressured Robert Chiltern. Peter Thurnwald’s gloriously dandified Lord Goring was a breath of fresh air, with Saskia Archer cheeky and sweet as love interest Mabel Chiltern.

Lucinda Howes is strong as the villainous Mrs Chevely (a delight to see the tides turn for her), with Jessica Veitch giving maturity and some gorgeous comic delivery to Lady Markby. Hamish White rounds out the leading roles with a highly emotive Earl of Caversham.

The remaining roles are essentially cameos, but all are distinct and well established. Nice work from Alexander Dilley (Phipps), Bryn Chapman Parish (Mason), Poppy Lynch (The Countess of Basildon), Julia Kok (Mrs Marchmont), Jonathon Lagudi (Vicomte), Ruby Maishman (great facial expression as James), Camila Ponte Alvarez (Harold), Lachlan Stevenson (Mr Montford) and Justin Bell (Baron).

An interesting take on a classic text, I wish all of the cast and graduating creatives “Ideal" futures and careers.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Jon Green