MORE than 40 worthy residents of Lyme Regis, and scores more volunteers making sets, props and costumes, and moving them and the audiences around the Marine Theatre – that’s what it takes to mount a community play, and this group is now very good at it.
Locally-born writer Andy Rattenbury, on this fifth community play for his home town, decided to link Shakespeare’s best known summer play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with stories about Lyme’s history and current life, which not only enabled him to bring in more participants and their memories, but to link the original lovers, who were near Athens for their frolics, and modern courting couples. That ploy was largely driven by Elena Breeze, who managed a wonderfully disingenuous performance as Helen/a, leading the other lovers, Lucy Poole, Max Hastings and Ewan Rich.
The Marine, with its fairy lights and wafting boughs, not only looked beautiful and magical but also sounded just like a forest, thanks to the noises made by the various elves and goblins. The vital role of Puck, Oberon’s fairy messenger, was split between three young actors having a wonderful time at the expense of the rest of the company. Well done to Jaya Mella, Holly Watkinson and Ramona Rabbitts.
This show really felt rooted in the local community, with various people talking about their own lives in the town and the changes they have seen. Once, on “the one flat bit of Lyme Regis” there was a Wych Elm, felled in 1950 when the council got windy about injury if another branch fell on someone. It was known as The Shady Tree, and, because Wych Elms ALWAYS attract fairy folk, that’s where Titania sleeps, surrounded by sometimes-malevolent and very voluble sylvan attendants. A group of “rude mechanicals” – here a town crier, a fisherman, a gig rower, the proprietor of The Kiosk, a plumber and a musician – are rehearsing a play, and they too choose the Shady Tree.
It’s all huge fun and the packed audiences loved it. Sorry if it’s invidious to name actors in community plays, but I must mention Anne King – one of the very best walls I have ever seen … and I have seen many. Brian Rattenbury’s Bottom was full of bombast, and Chris Gill as Peter Quince not only had Pyramus and Thisbe to rehearse but also the music to direct and a French horn to play as part of the terrific little orchestra.
These are just a few of the versatile and inventive performers, musicians and helpers who made this show such a delight. Well done to all of them, and to the imaginative directors Tessa Morton and Nicola Kathrens.
GP-W