Posted by Mike Dennis on May 20, 2012 at 10:26:34 user MTD.
In the threads that have appeared here discussing the Bristol Old Vic stage version of S&A I have commented on the notion of such a production rather than the experience having not seen it, and I still haven’t.
But… I have just read the script, which leads me to hold on to my objections (leaving aside my own dislike of musicals, though it is clear from the script it is more a play with songs).
What brings me to comment here once more is prompted by this exchange early on in the script
JOHN
Parley, parley?
Maybe we can talk this through?
The play is littered with these inappropriate modern uses of English, to a point where individual characters become almost unrecognisable from the ones readers of the book will know.
In a similar way a number of key events are dropped from the story (one of my favourites that has been removed being how Nancy deals with Sammy whilst he is attempting to blame John for the robbery on the houseboat.)
In adulthood, for me S&A has always been the description of a moment in time – 1930s England before the changes wrought by the Second World War (curiously the play acknowledges that in the opening scene but then goes on to rely on 21st century English usage!)
AR’s writing and his use of language is, to me, why he is still so well known, in print and respected. Those that only read the books after seeing the play will be very disappointed (and so they should be for not reading them first!)