The Yorkist

Perhaps the most difficult challenge was making the lovers credible and interesting. We were fortunate in having a very competent quartet to capture the shifting moods of these spoiled "Athenians" whose one notion in life seemed to be the winning of their true love. Their hearts were worn on their sleeves and we knew exactly where we were with them at all times. The four lovers' verse speaking was excellent and they were completely at ease on the rather wide open space of the acting area. One of the delights of this part of the play was to see such subtle gestures as a hand movement, a tossing of the head, a double take which were particularly effective in communicating an opinion or a feeling. Keith Raynor and Alex Schwarz as Theseus and Hippolyta presided over their part of the proceedings with the necessary good hearted dignity. Duncan McBurney as the acid and humourless Egeus and Peter Paddon as the grovelling master of revels made much of their rather small parts.

The fairies. What a wonderful idea to have them all move around on roller skates! They glided around the floor like the light airy beings Shakespeare surely had in mind. Clever lighting and gorgeously dress and make-up completed the illusion. Fortunately too, the air of mystery was preserved by the speaking of the lines. Bridget Fox (Titania) and Jeremy Reynolds (Oberon) were excellent in this respect (and in their general movement and postures). They were given first class support by the remainder of the fairies. We could not leave this section without a mention of the performance of Ian Kennett as Puck. He spoke well and his movement and facial expression whether in or out of the c

entre of the action was suitably impish and harmlessly wicked at all times. No doubt the mechanicals have it easier than the rest in this play. Their earthy simplicity, their bare stupidity won the heart of all audiences, in their attempt to present a tragical history of Pyramus and Thisbe for the delight of their duke and his lady at their wedding feast. Indeed each part in the group was firmly defined and there was not a weak link among them. Nick Bottom alias Pyramus alias Julian Richards revelled in opportunities offered to him to be outrageously conceited, bemused and melodramatic.

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