All
the world's a stage", as Shakespeare wrote, and following last weeks
production of one of the Bard's most famous, and funniest plays, The Castle
Players proved yet again that not only is the world a stage, so is a garden, a
tree and a muddy patch of lawn. This year it's "As You Like It", a
very funny story of cross & double cross, hidden identities, requited and
unrequited love all written with 'Old Will's' humorous quill in hand.
Despite the
horrendous weather we have suffered over the past 6 weeks, this few, this happy
few, (this band of brothers?) have toiled to ensure that they would not be
outdone by rain, wind and mud and thus the annual summer production could
go ahead. Rehearsing in temporary accommodation was one thing, but when
the dress rehearsals and stage setting had to be done under the threat of torrential
downpours even the most stoic of supporters must have cast a disbelieving eye
towards the opening night. But what is a bit of mud & rain when the thrill
of performing awaits (and a hot shower and warming toddy afterwards).
The stage
was set within the grounds of the iconic Bowes Museum on the rear lawn with the
canopy of a huge tree providing the lighting rig and centre piece, the castle
gardens and walls playing as the backdrop and two grandstand terraces
forming the auditorium.
The
production of this show was truly amazing; the costumes, the sets, the
inclusion of live sheep (who at times had perfect timing for interrupting the
best intended dramatic pauses), the minstrels - everything was perfect and made
even more so by being staged outside. We were very, very lucky to have
picked the one fair & fine evening in a month to attend this oasis of
culture in a bleak & dreary week so one can only imagine how testing it was
for the cast & crew to have battled through on Tuesday & Wednesday when
the heavens fell, the ground rose and even the sheep would have looked a little
perplexed.
I don't like
using the phrase 'Amateur' - it suggests of pitiful attempts at 'doing their
best', appreciated only by cast family members and the director who has ideas
of grandeur. This was as far away from an 'amateur' production as
you could ever see. The actors were all immensely dedicated in
delivering a performance worthy of the bard's name with very clever
casting and obvious enjoyment being had by everyone concerned. The
direction was tight, intuitive and completely at one with ensuring the pace of
delivery still allowed time for the audience to unravel the multitude of layers
so often present in Shakespeare's comedies.
The use of
live minstrel music added an authenticity which created an additional layer,
especially as the evening waned and the natural light dimmed. In fact the
setting outside gave an etheral quality which would have been impossible in a
traditional theatre.
The lead
characters were immediately recognisable, which came from exquisite
opening introductions; all too often Shakespearean directors rush headlong
into the guts of the play (feeling that they need to seek out the well known
phrases to keep the audience on board) and they leave the audience
playing catch up. Simon Pell and Mary Stastny, the
directors, ensured that each main character was allowed sufficient
time onstage so the audience could easily identify with them. This made
for a much smoother movement through the first act and heightened the second
act's humorous subplots, especially as the love interests strengthened and
partners wooed and 'shooed' in equal measure.
Whilst the whole cast were wonderful in their
performances, special mention goes out to a few who really caught the
eye; Andy Moorhouse as Jaques was
a brilliant tortured soul who reminded me of James Garnon playing James 1st in
Anne Boleyn; Laura Pennell who played
Celia had such a mischievous glint in her eye throughout the whole play and of
course, Peter Cockerill as Silvius the
shepherd, who spent the first 2 hours of the evening searching the extensive
grounds of Bowes Museum for his 'love' Phoebe.
When
you look at the cast list, production team and additional support you can
appreciate just how professional (in all but name) this production is -lest we
not forget that all these people give of their time, effort, skills, hard work
and dedication in the true love of performance - more than a
little humbling.
It is clear
to see why the Castle Players have been
invited to attend and perform for the RSC in Stratford this weekend; there can
be few other productions in the country who capture the real essence of The
Bard's work with infectious enthusiasm and downright enjoyment.
Congratulations to everyone concerned, you do our region proud.
The plot is simplicity in itself – Honest Alf,
Flash Harry and Fred (I kid you not, these are the names used) plan to kidnap
the odds-on favourite horse and replace it with their own decrepit nag and
thus, by laying on the horse to lose, pocket a tidy £10,000. Think Arthur
Daley running Channel 4 racing. In true style, the plan immediately
starts to unravel, first when they realise that the replacement horse would never
pass muster as the favourite, and then when they take up their digs for race
week only to find that the jockey, a diminutive Frenchman who speaks not a word
of the Queens English, is also ‘stabled’ at the same inn. Secret
passages, eccentric characters and malapropisms abound to create a degree of
controlled mayhem.
Particular mention to Zoe Mills as Susan
Wagstaff who brought a real period feel to her look and performance – part wide
eyed debutante, part love struck damsel whose flawless appearance is very
reminiscent of the silent movie screen idols Lillian Gish and Blanche
Sweet. 
