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This one act comedy and alternative take on history by Diana Moore was produced by Abingdon Old Gaol Theatre Company and entered into three local drama festivals: Didcot Cornerstone Arts Centre (21st May), Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon (3rd June) and The Corn Exchange, Wallingford (11th June). After each performance an adjudicator gave an evaluation along with suggestions on improving or adding to the overall quality of the play’s interpretation and delivery. I watched to a packed audience at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon. Nearly a Silver Wedding is a witty and entertaining play about Katherine of Aragon’s spirited battle to keep her man. Hester, her resident Jester-cum-Counsellor is on hand to help her majesty, whether checking the Queenly temperature or keeping tabs on John the Messenger. Love is in the air and all around as John is keen to woo and win the reluctant hand of the haughty Hester while providing her with useful contacts to help the Queen of England in her plans to give Henry VIII ‘A Silver Wedding he’ll never forget’. The feisty Queen however has to deal with Henry’s roving eye, growing impatience and lust for Lady Anne Boleyn. The use of a range of music added styles and eras that created a comic mix. Memorable moments included Anne Boleyn’s energetic rap, Katherine and Henry VIII’s chamber scene, ‘the wobbledy-cobbledy carriage game’, the special delivery of a baby boy who wailed loudly right on cue, and a stuttering priest who was very afraid... Paul Fowler’s adjudication of the piece was very interesting; he complimented Diana Moore’s writing and originality and had lots of tips for the Old Gaol Theatre Company to improve their interpretation and staging of the piece. As a new play it was informative for the audience to experience just how intricate and demanding an exercise it is to bring a new script to life. STOP PRESS ‘Nearly a Silver Wedding’ went on to win the adjudicator’s Commended Award at Wallingford for Excellent Staging and Stage Management. At Didcot the play had nominations for Best Actress (Chris Price), Best Supporting Actor (Nick Hearn) and was commended for the highly original writing. Kate MacFarlane (Unverified), 06/07/09 |
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