Poster Design © L.A.Conyers

Shakespeare's best loved comedy. We have done it before, in the Valley Gardens, with great success.
Now we have the chance to do it again on a proscenium stage with the same director.
It is romantic, comic and approachable, and starts and ends with music.
A brother and sister, spearated by a shipwreck are reconciled, an "affectioned ass" is cut to size by practical jokes and a troop of mischievous gentlemen are taught to behave, but by the end as the Clown says, "the whirligig of time brings in his revenges".

And, as in all great comedies, they all live happily ever after.

Performance Dates:
Wednesday 14th, to Saturday 17th May 2003
Evenings at 7:45 pm
Saturday Matinee at 2:30 pm

The term “amateur” has lost much of its original meaning but this production is a reminder that those who play for the love of it frequently create stage magic.
With direction by Joan Mallett, one of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies is presented at its hilarious best.
The set is minimal with stark white suggestions of place, leaving the focus exactly where it should be – on Shakespeare’s immaculate lines and some first rate performances. The butt of the joke is the pompous Malvolio who, thanks to a clever scheme hatched below stairs, is deceived into thinking Olivia is in love with him.
Derek Newton gives a confident reading of the lofty steward, complete with self important mannerisms and patronising tone.
The famous “box hedge” scene is ingeniously devised and a definite comic high-point. Stuart Kellett gives voice to the foppish Andrew Aguecheek with high pitched gusto, but always with an eye to his superior sidekick, Sir Toby.
Paul Dunstan captures the fearless gait and bawdy knockabout of the intoxicated Belcher to great effect.
Judy Methven as Maria is another intelligent interpretation of a gentlewoman-cum-prankster.
Of the serious roles, Tammie Romatowski presents a delightfully up front Olivia in act two and Rachel Conyers (Viola / Cesario) is genuinely moving when re-united with her brother Sebastian (Chris Rawson).
A Singing Fool with a cheeky glove puppet is Mike Garside and this musical minstrel shows his varied talents in a number of different scenes.
It would be a shame if the district’s theatregoers missed the chance to catch this high quality, indoor production. Come on, Theatre lovers, snap up the tickets for the remaining performances and give this excellent show what it deserves – a full house.

Ruth Badley