Cold Comfort Farm
Wetshill Farm, Horton Cum Studley until Sat. 20th July

The programme notes tell us that Westhill Productions were established to “give the opportunity for young actors to gain further experience”. If this production is anything to go by, the actors involved have certainly grasped the opportunity with both hands.
Stella Gibbons’ rural classic is beautifully set in the 17th Century Barn at Westhill, the huge beams and creaking doors fittingly representing the home of the disturbed Starkadder family. Ruled over by Aunt Ada ‘there’s something nasty in the woodshed’ Doom, the Starkadders lives are thrown into turmoil by the arrival of their cousin Flora Poste. Flora takes it upon herself to bring the family around to her own genteel lifestyle and the plot follows the ways in which she helps her relatives reach their goals.
As Flora, Rebecca Pownell provides a calm centre for things to revolve around. The other actors provide great support: Kate Yedigaroff is excellent in the role of Aunt Judith, and Ben Marriott plays the hellfire and brimstone preacher Amos to good effect, his sermon being one of the highlights of the show. Indeed, all the young cast bring lots of energy, and no little technique, to the production which moves along at a good pace, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. The triple role of Seth/Mr Mybug/Dr Mudel gives Hugo Thurston a chance to demonstrate his considerable vocal talents, and there is some good physical comedy from Tom Wainwright as the almost subhuman Urk. For most of the show it is difficult to fault the playing but I felt that the final appearance of Aunt Ada, Daniella Edmunds (!), fell a little flat, not so much a malevolent matriarch as Grandma from the Thunderbirds. In fact much of the very short second half seemed rushed, with the ‘redemption’ of certain characters being somewhat lost. The finale however was wonderful - a true Hollywood pastiche where Flora finds happiness, having set everything to rights at Cold Comfort Farm.
Under the management of Producer/Director Amelia Sears Westhill Productions have done themselves proud with this production - not so much ‘something nasty in the woodshed’ as ‘something pretty good in the barn’.

David Wootten, 16.07.02