October has somehow turned into the month of historical plays for the bee. Juicy period pieces on power, societal manipulation, hypocrisy, and the pressures of the time? Yes please. There’s something about watching characters entangle themselves in lies and control games that feels particularly enjoyable.
The Cabinet Minister is a glimpse into Victorian society’s obsession with status, with Sir Julian Twombley desperately trying to maintain his political career while his family’s spending habits spiral out of control. Think family scandals, financial mishaps, and a desperate scramble for respectability—sound familiar? Whether the play will offer a sharp critique or simply a night of frivolous farce is yet to be seen, but either way, the bee is ready for a night of delicious scandal.
This production takes us to Australia’s first penal colony in 1788, where British convicts, sentenced for petty crimes, try to survive under brutal conditions. Lieutenant Ralph Clarke stages a play with the convicts, giving them an outlet, a moment of humanity amidst their brutal punishment. The bee looks forward to thinking about the tension between punitive justice and the possibility of rehabilitation. Expect a lot of heavy themes—the play makes one confront a dark past of colonialism, power structures, and dehumanizing punishment—the bee is honestly a bit afraid of the emotional turmoil this play might cause.
This one centers on a Duchess, who defies her brothers by remarrying beneath her class. What follows is a series of cruel and calculated acts of revenge as her family punishes her for asserting her autonomy. Expect to see themes of control, repression, and patriarchy, alongside plenty of betrayal and blackmail. The bee anticipates a dark and emotional evening, filled with hypocrisy and the consequences of unchecked power.
This two-part adaptation of Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga promises family secrets, scandal, and the clash of old-world respectability with new-world desires. Spanning 40 years, the story focuses on Soames Forsyte, a wealthy man who views his wife as his possession, and the devastating fallout of that dynamic. The scandal isn’t limited to one generation—these family skeletons have a habit of haunting the next. For those who enjoy dramas about hypocrisy and the downfall of those who try too hard to maintain their status, this is going to be one to watch.
This new musical adaptation of the 1957 film tracks the rise and fall of Lonesome Rhodes, a drifter-turned-media personality who uses his newfound fame to manipulate the masses. His early appeal to the “common man” gradually morphs into something darker, with power and politics coming into play. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked celebrity and media manipulation, though whether it lands its punches remains to be seen. The bee is curious to see how this adaptation navigates its timely themes without veering into the overly obvious.
As the bee looks ahead to this month’s line-up, there’s a clear pattern: historical stories, with characters entangled in power struggles, family dynamics, and social expectations. Whether these plays will live up to their themes of hypocrisy and societal critique is something only the stage will reveal, but the bee promises to report back soon.
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