Sheffield University Drama Society’s The School For Scandal – 15 April 2026, University Drama Studio
Review by Jacob Bush.
Sheffield University Drama Society returns to the Drama Studio with a production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal. The play focuses on a fairly large group of aristocratic people who seem to either be gossiping about the scandalous behaviour of others or performing scandalous behaviour themselves. The play was first seen on stage in 1777 and it does feel that old. Whilst there is air
of Bridgerton about it, the play doesn’t offer the same commentary on modern day life that would keep us fully gripped and intrigued throughout. It’s described as a comedy but it’s far from riotous. There are a few funny moments throughout, coming mainly from when the actors push into the melodrama of it all – perhaps director David Walker needed to encourage all of his cast to make everything bigger and more over the top.
Matt McDonnell plays Sir Peter Teazle and is perhaps the most likeable of the bunch of characters. He is probably the closest thing we have to a protagonist and we long to see him find his happy ending. McDonnell definitely gets the comedic style that this play needs, walking the line between being over the top whilst somehow always still feeling human. Alison Munro as Mrs Crabtree also gets the comedic tone of the piece, getting a fair few laughs throughout with her strong comic timing. She portrays the woman who loves to gossip and thinks she’s always right excellently.
Charlie Daniels and Robin Purshouse as Lady Teazle and Joseph Surface respectively have great chemistry, but we don’t get enough stage time with them to see the affair fully develop. Perhaps upping the raunchiness of their main Act two scene could help really show what’s going on behind Sir Peter’s back, increasing the emotional pathos we feel here towards Sir Peter.
The play really picks up with the arrival of Tom Clements as Charles Surface and Brendan Ferris as Careless at the start of Act two – it’s just a shame they don’t have a more stage time. Both bring a huge amount of energy to the stage and have a great rapport (maybe even a little romantic chemistry which only helps to elevate Charles’ scandalous nature as someone who flirts with anyone but doesn’t ever really commit!).
The play features so many characters and many that don’t get much development. It’s also a challenge to fully understand exactly what the nature of the relationships between some of the characters is. The twists at the end of the play don’t quite land as impactfully as they should because they come from out of the blue a little. People seem to get back together again very quickly just after a couple of new revelations!
This production of The School for Scandal is a real feast for the eyes, particularly thanks to Julia Morrison’s costumes. They are gorgeous period costumes and wonderfully colourful. Sue Payne’s set design works well to conjure up the aristocratic feel the play needs, but a few more elements to come on and off would have helped to really distinguish whose house we’re in and when.
