Peoples Republic of South Devon

Exit, pursued by a bear (art review)

April 6th, 2008

posted by Cptn
– Costumes for The Winter’s Tale, Coleton Fishacre (National Trust property), Kingswear, until April 13

There’s something maniacally forlorn about the interwar period – the hysterical laugh before it turns into sobbing; a quintessential stiff upper lip that is quivering.
The National Trust property Coleton Fishacre is the perfect manifestation of this uneasy age. Caught between the modern and the old, with an Arts and Crafts ethos and Art Deco stylings, it’s almost a recreation of a typical country cottage but with the pizzaz of 20th century relatively-new money.

The home was built for the D’Oyly Cartes in the 1920s, with beautiful touches of frugality from the theatre and hotel empire (check out the sinks and splash tiles in the bedrooms, which apparently are the same as the Savoy’s refit at the time). The house stayed in the family just over 20 years and was sold in 1948.

So what better setting for the jazz-age costumes of last summer’s Dartington Players’ The Winter’s Tale, a play caught between tragedy and romance.

The costumes are perfectly at home in the house and the intricate and well-constructed creations are accompanied by Helen Snell’s drawings.

There’s the mixture of the chic sophistication of Pauline and Hermione – whose descent is matched in her clothing – and the rich peasantry of Perdita and the shepherd.

The change in Leontes is highlighted by his embroidered dark and light costumes. And Polexenes is shown and described as a frumpy old Eastern bloc officer, all medals, braiding and buttons.

But it’s Autolycus who steels the show as a flying jacketed bric-a-brac hero of flashing lights and fun accouterments.

There’s plenty to pour over, not least the work and attention to detail that went into the concept and production, and the only quibble is the relatively small room for the exhibition, and that after whetting your appetite, the production finished its run last summer. Neither of which can be helped.

The Playgoers Society have just finished their production of the Oliver Sacks story The Man Who.

Read more about Helen Snell, who designed last year’s Two Short Nights award, sponsored by D+CFilm.

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Entry Filed under: Arts, Society