The Misanthrope: Theatre Royal Bath

The Misanthrope
Theatre Royal Bath
It's a funny old world when a pop star from the sixties, who later became one of the nation's favourite poets – largely responsible for returning poetry to a popular art form  – becomes   a world expert on the 17th century  French writer Moliere.
But then when we listen to Roger McGough's   joyful use of words in  a translation of Moliere's greatest work, we find it is actually a match made in heaven.
This is the third translation Roger has made of a Moliere play  and thankfully  he has returned the great man's works to something like the original, without the  trilling of mobile phones and the pinging of text messages to try and bring them 'up to date' that  has recently bedeviled so many classic works.
Here we are pitchforked into a genuine looking 17th century Paris salon but with witty rhyming lines designed entirely for 21st century British audiences.
Nothing much happens in the play which gave it a bit of a dodgy start – an unhappy ending didn't help – back in 17th century Paris which allows us to concentrate on the words and watch the players who argue for an against honesty of dealings with our fellow men and women.
Colin Tierney is the central figure of Alceste a man with a general hatred, mistrust and disdain of the human species and of human nature generally, to give the dictionary definition of misanthropy. Is it better to tell a man straight out that the sonnet he has just written is rubbish or to try and break it to him gently?
This is a beautiful looking production with a team of tip top players and a script totally accessible to anyone who wants a great evening out with loads of laughs. It's on until Saturday.
Christopher Hansford