Our next production will be:
The Lady Killers by Graham Linehan
Directed by Maggie Smith
"The Noble Spaniard"
by W. Somerset Maugham
MUCH HADHAM DRAMA GROUP “The Noble Spaniard”
Directed by Sue Wetherall
Reviewed at Much Hadham Village Hall on Saturday 19/11/2022
A warm welcome awaited us and after being shown to our seats we were able to have a word with the Director prior to curtain up.
The set was that of a well furnished living room and you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking into someone’s house rather than at a stage set, such was the attention to detail. There was even a lovely chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Windows were dressed with swags and greenery and sunlight could be seen beyond the open glazed door to the garden.
The play, by W. Somerset Maugham was written and first performed in the early 1900’s and portrays the typical genteel way of life of the upper classes of the era.
A young widow by the name of Marion Nairne well played by Lorna Catt, and her younger sister Lucy, a nice performance by Pennie Ellis, are spending the summer in Boulogne with Mr Justice Proudfoot and his wife Lady Proudfoot. Marge Ellis and Andy Roberts gave polished and at times very amusing performances as the bored wife who exudes excitement at the thought that she may have (mistakenly as it happens) caught the eye of another and the rather straight laced husband, reprimanding his wife for showing him affection as well as having the audacity to show her ankles.
The central character is the handsome but somewhat ridiculous Duke of Hermanos, intent on declaring his love for Marion, who he has only ever seen through a window. Hoping to send him on his way, Marion tells him she is married. He avows that the husband must die. What pursues is one mistaken identity after another, with a posy of flowers being thrown out of the window on more than one occasion and dueling swords and pistols at the ready. A great piece of comedic acting by Peter Rosborough as the lovelorn Duke with a Spanish accept, kept up throughout.
Good performances from Mark Edwards as Lucy’s mustachioed fiancé Captain Chalford and Margaret Stainton as the totally confused maid Mary Jane, a lovely cameo role.
Granville Rush, using a magnificent French accent which never appeared to falter, had some good comedic lines and made an excellent Count de Moret. His English wife, the Countess, supportive of her husband but prone to bouts of excitement was well played by Amanda Green.
This was a very enjoyable and well costumed production. I particularly admired the beautiful evening dresses in the final act.
As for Marion and the Duke, well she obviously wasn’t going to get rid of him so...
Well done to everyone involved. Thank you for inviting me and for your hospitality.
Decia Ranger
Regional Rep
NODA East, District 7
Much Hadham Drama Group
The Noble Spaniard by Somerset Maugham
Oh, my goodness! What fun we had at the latest production of the Drama Group. It was just what we needed on a dank November evening, and there is no doubt that we enjoyed ourselves. The laughter rang out all night long, as the well-schooled cast kept up the rollicking pace that this piece needed. The evening sped by and there were smiling faces everywhere as we made our way home.
The Nobel Spaniard is a costume farce telling the tale of a Spanish nobleman (brilliantly played by Peter Rosborough) who becomes besotted by a widow (attractively executed by Lorna Catt). In order to dampen his over-enthusiasm, she tells him that she is married. Undaunted, the Spaniard vows that her husband shall die, at which point the men in the play become the victims of mistaken identity, with hilarious consequences.
I enjoyed all the performances, and the fact that the cast members had managed to learn their parts so well, added to our pleasure. Mr Justice Proudfoot (the excellent Andy Roberts), and Lady Proudfoot (the accomplished Marge Ellis), were a very convincing couple, sparking off one another at each appearance. It was good to see Pennie Ellis, as Lucy, following in her mother’s footsteps, and her fiancé, Captain Chalford, (Mark Edwards) in splendid army uniform bringing colour to the stage.
Granville Rush and Amanda Green, as The Count and Countess De Moret, gave well-drawn and enjoyable performances and Margaret Stainton showed us how to make the very most of a small part, when she played Mary Jane, the somewhat downtrodden maid, so humorously.
As ever, with this group, the scenery was excellent. Jem Deans always comes up trumps, producing a great set, with help from members. I particularly enjoyed the costumes (Eileen Booth). Peter Rosborough looked really splendid and every inch the nobleman, and the ladies looked lovely. Well done to Callum Neil, who brought an expert touch to the lighting and sound.
But we mustn’t forget the Director (and her Assistant). The success of this production lies firmly in the laps of Sue Wetherall and Maggie Smith. What a team they are! The Much Hadham Drama Group is so fortunate to have such imaginative and competent Directors. They inspire confidence in cast and audience, bringing together the whole team to give us a very happy evening.
I’m glad to say that, on the night I went, there was a more than full house. This production really
deserved it. Very well done to you all.
Sandra MacAdam