When Madame Bovary was first revealed in 1856 it scandalised Parisian society and introduced costs of immorality. However, for creator Gustave Flaubert it secured his place as the daddy of literary realism. A minute dissection of the bourgeois courses had left him on the horns of a dilemma; how does one observe up such a large hit with out dropping creative integrity? In the Oyster Problem, Flaubert fights the truth of a dwindling revenue and the absence of oysters, wine and different luxuries that solely cash should buy.
Gustave Flaubert (Bob Barrett) sits on the hub of the literary neighborhood in Paris. He merrily banters with Emile Zola (Peter Hannah), who has supplemented his revenue by writing for newspapers. He urges Flaubert to embrace the industrial potential of writing and treatment his monetary woes. It is a case of writing common novels that promote to a mass viewers. Flaubert is unrepentant and refuses to cheapen his artistry. His shut good friend Ivan Turgenev (Giles Taylor) supplies a sympathetic ear however reluctantly backs Zola’s view. Flaubert’s niece Caroline Commanville (Rosalind Lailey) is a gifted artist however grows more and more involved for the household’s funds. With the help of George Sand (Norma Atallah), Zola and Turgenev hatch a plan to safe a paid place, however will Flaubert grasp the nettle?
This extremely literate and clever piece sheds mild on the French literary scene within the nineteenth Century. It advantages from an adroit forged led by Bob Barrett, who has introduced Flaubert to life full with numerous foibles, particularly his drive for perfection. To take a complete morning to write down one sentence completely illustrates le mot juste (‘the right word’). Elsewhere, the up to date reference to ‘marketing’ appears incongruent with the interval when it was barely recognised as an idea. For the uninitiated, it is a difficult proposition that feels closely self-analytical. This is basically a play about writers speaking about writing and different writers. The verbal interaction is brilliant however seems like literary poker, as Tolstoy and Balzac are thrown into the dialog. To absolutely respect these references the viewers wants an consciousness that places it within the ‘one for fans’ class. However, a high quality forged retains it ticking over with a script that appears contained in the thoughts of a uniquely gifted author.Review by Brian Penn
Seat: D12 | Price of Ticket: £35/£31 concessions