Nell Gwynn

Having performed myself for many shows I know the feeling of insomnia as you try and unwind from being in a show, but this is the 1st time I have ever experienced this after watching a Play such was the outstanding quality of Nell Gwynn by Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society.

Exceptional is a very strong word to use, however it is the perfect adjective to describe a production that was gripping and entertaining from start to finish.

Nell Gwynn tells the story of a young working class girl from Covent Garden, raised in her mother’s brothel, yet despite her lack of inner self-confidence strives for more for herself.

The Georgian Theatre was the perfect setting for this play. Using very basic scenery (2 main flats with clever projection work to change their purpose), simple scene changes and a wonderful array of period costumes the technical side was basic yet acted as a perfect backdrop for the amazing performances ahead of it.

The show started with a clever prologue from one of the Company’s actors, Ned Spiggett, played in a wonderful stuttering manner as he is heckled by members of a crowd from the stalls and completely drowned out by a raucous Nell.

This 1st glimpse of Nell set the scene for the play as her lively, cocky and cheeky side began to shine through. Nell in her time was described as a Popular Comic Actress and in Samantha Morrison RADS had certainly found their Nell. 

Simply sensational in this role, Samantha shone in every scene and scenario throughout the play, delivering lines with great timing, bouncing off every member of cast and showing so many different sides to what is deep down a complex character. For a lass from County Durham her accent never dropped and if you turned off your GPS you could easily believe you were sat in a local East End boozer. Every aspect of her character was believable and her character was radiant and glowing making it truly worthy of a Monarch’s (and our) affections.

After the rowdy Prologue Nell is taken under the wing of Charles Hart, a senior member of the local Theatre Company who through the promise of teaching her the art of acting manages to not only convince Nell to join him on stage but also his bed.

Mike Walker played the role of Charles and was sublime keeping the scenes moving at pace with some lovely tongue in cheek humour and acting like a lost puppy in his affections for Nell. The early section where he is teaching her ‘The Attitudes’ was hysterical, demonstrating some outrageous facial expressions from both actors. Mike’s reaction later in the show when he is informed that he will no longer be playing the young lover was genius - his reaction capturing an emotion many of us have felt over the years.

Nell’s introduction to the Company brought us so many great characters who we would grow to love in the show. Aidan MacFarlane was brilliant yet again, playing the put-out Edward Kynaston as Nell comes in to take over the lead roles from his wonderfully camp drag characters. His bitchiness was on point, the strops fabulous and the risque innuendos so close to crossing the line but just holding back enough to not turn this role into a Panto Dame (we won’t mention candle sticks!)

James Sanderson as Thomas Killigrew tried his hardest to keep the Company in check, dealing with all the chaos around him and managing all the massive egos. James played the ‘straight role’ with great control, excellent line delivery and lovely use of the stage available to him.

Every company needs a playwright and in Graeme Mulvey they had a bumbling chaotic John Dryden. Energetic in every sense he gave us a lovely portrayal of this character, constantly in a flap over deadlines, unfinished scripts and a lack of ideas. Graeme shone in this role, bouncing off the other members of the company and pulling off some amazing exits when needing a quick escape. The section describing ‘his’ ideas for plays that were clearly Shakespeare rip-offs had the audience in stitches.

Lee Bowles as previously mentioned played Ned, the final main member of the company and despite being a quieter member of the group mastered some great physical acting and sensational facial expressions that could freeze a scene at any given moment. The rest of the company was made up from cast members doubling up in other roles but switching from their named characters to a rowdy ensemble with ease giving the Company scenes real depth.

Nell in her new role in the company shone in her performances and much to the disgust of Charles Hart and the Company’s hierarchy caught the attention of the most powerful man in England, King Charles II who despite a lot of convincing and at times verging on begging persuaded Nell to shack up with him as his mistress. Dan Westgarth was brilliant as the Monarch, with a cheeky smile and confident swagger his confidence shone through as a more successful lover than ruler.

The connection between Dan and Samantha was so genuine and honest, the teasing between them fun and flirty, the arguments fraught yet all the time the love between them was warm and honest. Samantha’s breakdown at the King’s passing was so raw that despite all the objections and barriers to their relationship you deep down felt it could have actually lasted.

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome for our couple was the constant interference from Lord Arlington, the King’s closest advisor, played with a stiff upper lip and sneer by Gary Winn. Constantly frustrated by the King’s reluctance to take his role and Royal duties seriously he used every trick in the book to break this relationship down. Gary’s almost patronising manner toward Charles was played wonderfully and his performance drew the reaction it deserved with a great dislike from the audience.

Nell was obviously not the only woman in Charles’s life, we had his wife Queen Catherine played by Debbie Barrigan with a fiery attitude and Spanish insults rolling off her tongue with ease. Rachel Hall played an earlier mistress Lady Castlemaine with a wonderful arrogance to her character. Stomping around the palace as if she was the Queen herself. A real grace to her movement and yet delicious bite to her tongue when needed. It was lovely to see a softer side to her in a scene with Nell and Rachel managed to switch these characteristics with ease.

Finally and through Arlington’s interference Charles had another mistress pushed onto him, Louise De Keroualle played by a wonderfully condescending Jenny Veitch. The French accent was so pure that the insults thrown to Nell had an extra bite to them. A lovely RADS premiere performance from Jenny that will be the 1st of many I am sure.

The final side to our cast was from those close to Nell, her family and close aides. Helena Langford gave us a lovely performance of her sister Rose, a caring and supportive side when required yet a real spark to her when in confrontation. The announcement of their mother’s death was so emotional it really shook us in the audience. Helena interacted wonderfully with Nell and also her mother, Old Ma Gwynn played with a real boom by Julie Winn. Not the biggest role in the show yet Julie gave this fierce old Brothel Owner a sharp edge, dressing down Nell with ease reminding her exactly where she had come from. 

Last but by no means least we had Nichola Stephenson in the role of Nancy, Nell’s closest ally and confident. This is possibly the best role I have seen Nichola in, her comic timing was exceptional, vocals shone through and her interaction and relationship with Nell was so believable. The scene in which she stands in for Nell in a play was absolute genius, the facial expressions and deadpan acting was a masterclass in acting outside of dialogue.

Max  Walker should be incredibly proud of his cast and crew, they took his ideas and delivered them with professional standards, weirdly modernising a historic play and making it seem authentic to a 21st Century Audience. Mike Walker had the tricky task of taking a basic score and making the music work, adding harmony work to a small cast is never easy yet the sound was amazing. Samantha led many of the numbers with strong vocals, as we have come to expect, brilliantly choreographed by Nichola Stephenson bringing the whole company into simple yet slick routines.

To quote a line from the play.. “I’ve searched high and wide for a play with an amazing lead”.

Well RADS you managed this, and in the casting of Samantha and an amazing cast you truly wowed your audience.

Instead of letting Poor Nelly starve, give her Champagne and raise a toast to her and the whole company on a truly Exceptional production.

 

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