The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

This is such an interesting and complex play that can be accessed on a number of levels.  Above all it is a fascinating and entertaining story that is certainly worth catching – if you are not too far from Macedon.

It is comfortably presented and beautifully produced (Allie Clare) on Jubilee Hall’s lovely deep stage by resident Theatre Company The Mount Players.

Set in a private girls’ school in England, and spanning from early 1931 to the time of the Spanish Civil War, it delves into a number of concerns.  The original book, that one assumes is full of the feminist, moral and religious arguments of the time, was written by Muriel Spark and first published in 1968.  The highly successful play was adapted by Jay Presson Allen and staged soon after that.  The mores are of a bygone era, but not the issues of protecting the young and naïve, maintaining appropriate boundaries between teacher and pupil and the very deep emotional and psychological damage of betrayal.

A kind of a hologram, Miss Jean Brodie is an amazingly unconventional, wonderfully caring and connected teacher.  She exudes the allure of a woman who lives a life of romantic illusion and has the charm of someone who can be daringly reckless.  Sometimes she seems to be inappropriately manipulative as she draws ‘her girls’ too deeply into her personal life.  At the same time she is a true teacher who understands and nurtures each in her care, as a revered individual.  Maggie Smith starred in the film of 1969 and won a best actor Oscar for the role.

Brodie is a complex multi faceted person with faults of self-indulgence that are palpable.  But no matter what, she must be played as charismatic and lovable for the play to make ultimate sense.  Ideally her wild and daring nature should appeal to the adolescent in us all.

The very refined and competent acting skills of the cast and relaxed clever direction by Andrew Meldrum go along way to making this production the great success it is. 

Relationships and character journeys are beautifully drawn and presented convincingly.  Most impressive is the work of Karen Hunt as Miss Jean Brodie, David Runnalls as Teddy Lloyd and Julia Santamaria as Sandy.  Hunt confidently embodies the ‘larger than life’ character of Brodie.  Lloyd engages very positively with other actors, particularly through mastering a good fast and lively tempo that is infectious. Santamaria has a lovely transparent, perhaps naïve, style that goes a long way in allowing the audience to understand Sandy’s emotional experience and catastrophic decisions.

As the school’s Principal Miss McKay, Christine Walker exhibits just the right amount of principled control and manages a very telling nervous twitch when dressing Brodie down.

Cherry Servis as Sister Helena and Mike de Jong as Mr. Perry endorse and support the story skillfully in their framing roles.  And all other actors very competently and charmingly embody their characters.  They are all, without exception, to be congratulated.

Kath Addicoat had done well finding appropriate and unobtrusive costumes that support and don’t scream out look at me.  

And in response to the director’s notes in the program, yes, this interesting and thought-provoking play did entertain me.  Not only that but it left me with a lot to mull over.

Suzanne Sandow