Acropolis Now (a comedy of arrows)

We all know that a visit to Blakeney is going to reach the heights of fun, enjoyment, and exploitation of all the talent available: when the production is written especially for a known cast, then every last ounce of expertise is utilised to the full to display the talent, and I think that Peter Franklin excelled in this enterprise with the writing, direction, and overall entertainment value. With the division of actions, scenes and cast into Mount Olympus, Village of Acropolis, City of Troy, and the Corridors of the Labyrinth, the opportunities for the mixes of legends with part pantomime just were endless: all named roles throughout with each person using their talents and yet being a part of the whole which just worked into a splendid evening of entertainment. Must mention the excellent sets (clever to have a high-side cloud effect) and superbly painted backcloths; and the myriad of colourful costumes so pleasing on the eye. As expected the standard of singing and dancing was of the highest: the good Muses were full of harmony both as a group and leading the chorus, the bad Harpies (with makeup and fingernails to die for) had twinkling toes and taps, Steve Benson had his ‘sing’ as hoped for (King Tyndareus) plus a great time in the number with Marjorie Davies his finance minister (Angela Merkeledes), and as for the finale Act 1 with the whole company participating in ‘The Caravan of Love’, well that was sublime in harmonies. The comedy was worked well from Olympus with dominating Martyn Scott (Zeus) and jealous Jennie Blowers (Hera); from Acropolis with Dave Long (Mrs Costabobortoo) and Jane Temple (Pegasu) and Chris Hoxley (Hadron) and Dave Buckley (Euripides) and Graham Colombe (Higgasus) – just loved the explanation of the Hadron Collider and Higgs Particle; and from Troy the repartee delivered with polish from Nic Page and Iain Mawson as Hyacynthus and Ganymede, and with the suitor to Helen from John Ratcliffe. Good to see the new young recruits to the company in the Woodhouse boys as Hermes and Eros, and the complexity of the presence in the labyrinth of the Minotaur from Ralph Wiggins in the spell cast on Hermes! And talking about magic, the Earthly form of Zeus as that tapping horse from Michelle Cobbett and Hannah Welch did try to steal the show, and when it became the equine equivalent to a Chinese dragon with all the villagers under that long body, well we solved the mystery of how Troy was entered, and not with a wooden horse as fabled! More than anything else, the feeling within the Blakeney Hall is of great teamwork and fun within participation and with great support from all involved in every department and from the sell-out audiences, what an atmosphere and show to enjoy.

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