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LOVE OFF THE SHELF
Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society
Ringwood School Theatre
Ringwood
October/November 2003

IT isn’t often that a society builds its own rather splendid, albeit slightly noisy, revolve for a show, but neither is it often that in the course of one production we see someone ski down a steep slope onto the stage, or fly off it on a rope ladder. And how about the table that whizzed off, seemingly of its own accord?
Very unusual happenings, you may think, but then this was an equally unusual show, a kind of amalgamation of musical, play and Mills and Boon-type novel. It centres on John (Simon Sketchley, struggling manfully through a severe cold) and his assistant, Mary (Jane Howell), who are working on a dull book about the life and times of a pre-Raphaelite rogue. But each, unknown to the other, is also writing what they hope will be a popular romantic novel – and, as they write, the characters come to life in what is often hilarious fashion.
Although the production seemed a little ragged round the edges at times, the prompt’s voice was heard a little too often and the writers’ own budding relationship was slightly underplayed, its very quirkiness made it fascinating and there were some lovely characterisations from the 25-strong cast.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo


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