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Review: The Merry Wives of Windsor (July 2004)
Making merry at the Manor
MEN in skirts lurking in the bushes of Manor Gardens should be a cause for concern, but when they are a fea-ture of the BATS' production of The Merry Wives of Windsor I'm happy to make an exception. The group's crack at open air Shakespeare brought belly laughs aplenty with wicked dialogue and slapstick physical comedy. The performance should serve as a news flash to all the bored GCSE students out there - Shakespeare can be very entertaining. It helps immeasurably when the cast seem to be enjoying themselves so much. Every performer whole-heartedly entered their role, many with huge grins on their faces. Their infectious enthusiasm rubbed off on the audience, who soaked up the atmosphere and even giggled with the cast at the odd, understand-able mishap.
The plot sees the rotund and out of pocket Sir John Falstaff, (played by the superb Peter Oxford) trying to weasel his way into the affections of Mistresses Page (Jojo Turnbull) and Ford (Verena Bradbury) in order to get to his grubby paws on their hus-bands' wealth.
The pair realise what he is up to and play a succession of practical jokes on the lecherous old knight, who, alas, is not over-furnished in the brain department.
Furthermore, Falstaff's own servants (David Brett-Andrews and Michael Turnbull) decide to take a moral stand, grassing him up to Master George Page (Peter Gallagher) and Master Frank Ford (Dominic Coughlan).
Page trusts his wife but Ford is overcome with jealousy, and his plotting gets him into just as many embarrassing scrapes as Falstaff. Meanwhile, wet blanket Abraham Slender (Greg Hulks), 'Allo 'Allo-esque Frenchman, Doctor Caius (David Bourne) and dashing Fenton (Matthew Butchers) are vying for the hand of Anne Page (Emily Morgan). A major muddle ensues as all three suitors are abetted by Mistress Quickly (Meryl Beamont) and the Hostess of the Garter (Debbie Stromberg-Hulks), who decides to do some expert string pulling. The various plot strands are tied together in a magical climax, with enchanting lighting and costumes bringing the Manor Garden to life as it poses as Windsor Great Park. Great credit should go to all the other players in this terrific adapta-tion for providing fun and solid performances. Director Peter Bradbury was justifiably thrilled with the group's efforts and everyone at the BATS, including those behind the scenes, deserves a pat on the back.
- DC, Bexhill Observer, 23/7/04
Review reproduced by permission
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