home | accolade | articles | acting | festivals | guestbook | groups | greenroom | links | news | plays 1 productions | photos | quotes | reviews |
 |
 |
Bournemouth Shakespeare Players Priory House Gardens Christchurch July 2003 Luckily the rain – no potatoes in sight – was just a passing shower that held up proceedings for a mere ten minutes or so, after which those merry wives were able to play their tricks unhindered. Even so, the production took time to get into its stride and, although highly amusing in places, failed to make the most of its comic opportunities. Kevin Dicker’s Brian Blessed lookalike Falstaff was never quite the jovial knight he should have been, tending rather more towards melancholy – perhaps as a result of his directorial responsibilities. There were some lovely characterisations, in particular from newcomer Adrian Marsden as the jealous Ford and Daniel Sutton as sneering Frenchman Dr Caius. Betty Toland and Natalie Arkell were suitably bubbly as Mistresses Page and Ford, while Jane Haynes was a deliciously mischief-making Mistress Quickly. And although one or two of those in minor roles fell into the trap of speaking too quickly, everyone was totally audible despite the lack of microphones. Linda Kirkman Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. |
