Nell Gwynn - Globe Theatre

Sumptuous set of Nell Gwynn

Having seen Blue Stockings two years ago, I was excited to see Jessica Swale's latest offering. Following Nell's journey from humble theatre orange seller to successful actress and mistress of Charles II to aspiring playwright, Nell Gwynn was a big ball of wit, exuberance, ribaldry and joy. It was definitely my favourite Globe production of the year.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was sympathetic and engaging as the courageous, determined, witty Nell. After being persuaded by actor Charles Hart (Jay Taylor) to try her hand at acting, Nell discovers she has a gift for it and quickly becomes indispensable to the company of players, much to the discomfort of Edward Kynaston (Greg Haiste), the company's established actor specialising in female roles. When the King shows an interest in Nell she is torn between her rewarding theatrical career (and Charles Hart, with whom she is romantically involved) and the prospect of a more comfortable - albeit potentially insecure - life with Charles II (David Sturzaker), with whom she has fallen in love.

The play was bawdy but not gratuitously so. Nell's humour was so infectious and her character so sympathetic that you couldn't help laughing along with her. The humour wasn't restricted to bawdiness; it was very witty and contained modern references (e.g. King Charles' anti-austerity remark). Kynaston was extremely funny as a stereotypical thespian, keen to demonstrate all the moves he had learned at 'fan school' in an attempt to intimidate Nell, and insisting on having an incredibly detailed backstory for the minor character he ended up playing. Nancy (Amanda Lawrence), the menial responsible for mending the company's costumes, was also a source of much of the play's humour. I loved it when it transpired that she had a perfect understanding of French as a result of having worked in France under Molière. 

My favourite scene was that in which Nell mocks the King's new mistress, Louise de Keroualle (Sasha Waddell), during a performance attended by the King and Louise. After Louise boasts to Nell that she intends to come to the performance wearing a 'grand chapeau' that will reduce Nell to insignificance, Nell comes on stage singing a song in French making fun of Louise, accompanied by other actors carrying an elaborate hat too gigantic to be worn.

The set was wonderful, complete with Royal Box and other theatre accoutrements. The costumes were excellent, including the many wigs. The music was great; songs entertaining.

One of the main themes of the play was the dearth of complex female characters in plays; once admitted into the company Nell tries to get Dryden (Graham Butler) to write more realistic and believable female characters. It was interesting to see this theme in the context of a play set in the seventeenth century, as it is of course still very relevant today.

Next: Probably Pride & Prejudice (guest post)