NODA said:
ALVECHURCH DRAMATIC SOCIETY
THE MERRY WIVES OF ALVECHURCH
ALVECHURCH VILLAGE HALL
DIRECTOR ALAN CLARKE
24th NOVEMBER 2017Having previously seen two original pieces of work performed by Alvechurch Dramatic Society I was looking forward to another enjoyable evening. This time a play written by Alan Clarke (the director) and Chris Davies (assistant director and actor in the play).
The question at the heart of the play was did a certain playwright ever visit Alvechurch? In the days of Shakespeare Alvechurch was a town before reverting to a village. Therefore, affording it a bailiff who governed it.
In the first act we get to know a band of actors ‘Worcester’s Men’. They are in Stratford upon Avon where they meet a certain ‘William Shakeshaft’. The character of Shakeshaft played with conviction throughout by Jon Oseland, had been caught poaching at Charlecote. He therefore agrees to join them as an actor.
The leader of the Worcester’s Men ‘James Tunstall’ is confidently played by Chris Davies who most certainly had a lot of lines to learn (however as he co-wrote it he only has himself to blame!). There were some great comic moments involving Davies not least a certain part of the act two costume. Further comic moments were in the capable hands of Martin Salter as ‘Tom ‘Scrumper’ Powlton’, a clown again especially in the second act when playing ‘Mistress Quickly’. Other band members consisted of ‘Jane Tunstall’ (Sue Resuggan), ‘Kit Tunstall’ (Leah Yendell) and ‘Richard Andrews’ (Steve Siddle) all added to setting the scene and shone in act two.
Our band of actors meet Sir John Stafford, Lord of Bordesley Manor (Martyn Read) and the local stuttering Bailiff – George Gunn (Adam Brown). Expecting to perform at the mop fair our band discover Stafford, a womaniser, has banned plays. But the band convince him to let them perform a play Shakeshaft writes specially for Stafford. We are also told that within the play he will get his just reward!
Shakeshaft who is told he has potential to be a dramatist of the future sets about to write the play. The set for the play writing scene was impressive for such a small stage. Furthermore, it was evident the props section of the society had been busy coffee staining the paper to make it appear more realistic.
And so, for act two and an abridged version of a similar sounding play. This time nearer to the River Arrow rather than the Thames. The references were all local including Hopwood and Bromsgrove. In the play within a play we see the antics of Falstaff – a character not un-similar to Stafford. The audience for the play consists of Stafford, Gunn and his wife played by Myfanwy Griffiths and three local wives, played by Jo Bestwick, Sarah Batstone and Maura Williams. Remaining characters were played by Rebecca Jenkins and Tony Godfrey.
Musical interludes as well as accompaniment for a couple of songs was provided by The Alvechurch Radical String Ensemble. Although the instruments were not in period the music sounded suitable and was fitting.
There was good attention to costumes throughout the whole play and Nicola Taylor and Gemma Batty cannot go without well-deserved acknowledgment as they were of a high standard. None more so than that of the ‘Third Earl of Worcester’. Ges Taylor playing this part looked every bit the local Nobleman.
As before with the group it was good to see a world premiere. If you or indeed anyone else get to perform the play again in the future maybe a little bit of trimming in act two would not have taken anything away from the overall result. Having said that this was a well written play with some good ideas and most certainly pleased the audience.
As always, a massive thank you to all at Alvechurch Dramatic Society for your welcome. See you again next April – I look forward to hearing what the production will be.