WINDSOR Theatre Royal’s Accolade is a sensually beautiful thriller that both delights and challenges.
With hauntingly discordant music, and historic radio broadcasts it invites its audience to slide gently into another world.
It is circa 1950 and we find ourselves in a comfortable oak-panelled library, the family home of author William Trenting, his wife Rona, and their son Ian.
Family photographs nestle affectionately on a desk, a typewriter is poised for literary adventure, and a comfy leather chair waits for its next guest.
It’s a sort of writer’s heaven where time is marked by the gently reassuring ticking of a grandfather clock.
Harmony and peace already live in this beautiful home.
And now their companion, honour, is about to join them, because Trenting has been recognised for his services to literature, and is about to be knighted.
It’s a golden moment for the family.
But this is a thriller, so all is not as it seems.
Trenting’s reputation is vulnerable to events in his recent past that threaten to savage it.
We discover that to find inspiration for his literary work, he regularly removes himself from respectable circles to participate in bad-boy parties.
At a sexually charged city brawl he has been caught in action on camera, and the consequences are about to be felt, both for him and for his family.
Emlyn Williams’ play, although written in the 1950s, remains remarkably relevant – it’s a story that could easily be lifted straight from the tabloids.
Interestingly, he’s willing to discuss the grey areas of morality with a remarkable broad mindedness for the time.
Audiences will have lots to discuss on the way home.
At its opening night Accolade the play was well received, if a little long – a tightening of the pace would make it even more thrilling.
For a chilling and absorbing story of truth, lies and scandal audiences should make their way to Windsor Theatre Royal.
Starring Ayden Callaghan, Honeysuckle Weeks, Sara Crowe, Gavin Fowler, Jamie Hogarth, David Phelan, Narinder Samra and Sarah Twomey, the production can be seen there until Saturday, June 15.
It then tours, with performances at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guilford, from June 25 to June 29.
Evening performances at Windsor are at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
An audio described performance is available at the Thursday matinee.
Tickets cost from : £19.50 to £44.
For tickets and information, call the box office on: 01753 853888, or visit: www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
