Around The World In 80 Days

Success For The Irish Rep In This Production Of A Verne Classic

By Aine Fox

London to London in 80 days is Phileas Fogg's seemingly impossible 19th Century challenge in this Jules Verne classic at the Irish Repertory Theatre (located just off Broadway) this summer.

Founded in 1988 by Ciaran O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore, the theatre is small and intimate - allowing the audience to "become part of the story" (as admitted by one of the crowd at the interval).

The intimacy was highly suited to this particular production where the characters often make asides to the theatre-goers, simultaneously informing and amusing them.

Five actors play the multitude of roles within the story. The slick transitions between characters demonstrate the calibre of actor performing - Jay Russell turns in a very impressive performance which sees him as an English gentleman one minute and a particularly unpleasant and dim American train conductor the next.

The story begins with a wager made at a gentleman's club for a respectable sum of £20,000 which challenges Mr Fogg, an English gentleman who lives a relatively isolated existence, to travel the expanse of the globe in exactly 80 days or less, providing a sure-fire basis for adventure, chaos and humour.

From London to Hong Kong, San Francisco to New York we come across stereotypical characters, vastly differing cultures, an Alaskan sleigh-driver and even an elephant!

Clever use of props and slick choreography unquestionably enhances the believability of the global expedition - a challenge to say the least considering the limitations of a small stage in an off-broadway theatre.

Two musicians in the background create the atmosphere for whichever country the actors happen to be in at any given moment in time.

The entire story was written ahead of its time considering modern-day globalisation.

Although travel is usually by plane these days, the attitudes and stereotypes still exist - making the play universally timeless.

It is interesting to note that Verne, a Frenchman, allows the French servant to become the unsung and unassuming hero over Fogg, the official protagonist.

Never a good piece of drama without a love story (of course), Verne provides a beautiful Indian bride, rescued from a sacrificial ceremony in Bombay, for the strong and relatively silent Fogg whose main role is in fact often overshadowed by the humour of each of the other characters.

Modern touches such as intertextual references to Titanic add to the audience's enjoyment.

A commentary at different points during the play also adds to understanding and provides extra humour.

One standout moment occurs near the beginning where Lauren Elise McCord in her journalist guise crams numerous accents into a compact description of the likely route Fogg's journey will take.

Spontaneous applause throughout indicated an appreciation of such fine performances of all the actors involved.

The play really is a must-see for anyone who wants a night of culture, entertainment and laugh-out-loud humour.

In this world of big-budget action movies and 3D special effects, it is refreshing to see a play performed which draws out audience imagination and manages to entertain using the simplest of props and relying mainly on the strength of script and talent of actors cast.