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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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An evening for making merry
Marika Farr as Mrs Alice Ford, Bob Graham as Sir John Falstaff and Sinead Maffei as Mrs Meg Page The Merry Wives of Windsor The Nonentities The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster *** AMID the welter of words, there were a
couple of first-night stumbles. They were not to be compared, however,
to the impressive purler that a member of a pleasing company took while
negotiating some upstage steps – without, however, appearing to suffer
undue damage, judged from Row L. But before the action started, there was applause
for the set and the 13-strong choir with its Victorian bonnets and
tailcoats that support a happy production on which director Jen Eglinton
has bestowed a seasonable Dickensian air. This is a venture in which Judy Bassett's
Mistress Quickly catches the eye and the ear. Here is a no-holds-barred
contribution that chortles rosy-cheeked and histrionic, with fluttery
hands that help to command the stage whenever she is involved. She is
the adverb among the adjectives – Shallow, Slender and Simple (Patrick
Bentley, Dan Taylor and Alan Minaker, respectively) – who keep the romp
rolling to good effect.
Bob Graham gives us a Falstaff perhaps less
upholstered than he might have been but nevertheless possessed of enough
apparent poundage to justify his claim to “a kind of alacrity in
sinking.” His voice is sound – rough, authoritarian – and his manner can
be declamatory when necessary. He also undertakes an impressive jump
onto the stage from an elevated launch-pad – particularly eye-catching,
considering the padding which must be something of a handicap in any
athletic endeavour. This is the lascivious old rogue with his eyes on
the comely forms of ladies who are well able to look after themselves.
He's a failed philanderer and he's fun to watch in his pursuit of
Mistress Alice Ford (Marika Farr) and Mistress Meg Page (Sinead Maffei).
Dennis Beasley (Bardolph), Trevor Bailey (Pistol) and Nick Haynes (Nim)
are his companions. Martin Copland-Gray has audience appeal as the
very Welsh Sir Hugh Evans, and Alex Forty unleashes a larynx that makes
it clear that he keeps a hostelry that brooks no nonsense. Richard
Taylor, as Frank Ford, and Tom Rees, as George Page, are the husbands
who have to keep alert to frustrate any Falstaff move in the direction
of their wives. Chris Kay (Fenton) makes a good job of helping
any audience members who may be struggling to keep up when he is at
pains to explain the plot to Mine Host. He and Sophie Harrison (Anne)
are a pleasing pairing, and Stuart Walton's Dr Caius is an elegant
apothecary who may possibly have escaped from ۥAllo, ۥAllo. It's a happy night – and there's even a reference
to behind the arras. To 10-12-11. John Slim |
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