The Heiress

Though restricted by their very small working area, the group once again achieved a good quality performance by engendering the tension necessary to hold the audience’s total attention. David Lightfoot’s Dr Sloper seemed a little lightweight initially but as the story unfolded his strength of character was undeniable as he strove to first persuade and later to threaten his daughter in an effort to save her from an unsuitable marriage. Amanda Gill played the daughter, Catherine, who did not live up to his expectations with understanding, gradually growing in confidence from the plain, nervous young woman lacking the social graces of her long dead mother. Her joy as she believed that at last she was loved by the young, handsome Morris, her acceptance that that match, even if short lived, would be better than never to have loved at all and the final implacable retribution were all well managed. Heather Boulby as Aunt Lavinia brought much needed lightness and humour as she attempted the role of matchmaker. Garry Wilkinson was persuasive as the suitor with an eye to the fortune Catherine would bring. The remaining characters all fulfilled their roles suitably.

I was a little put off by the costuming which seemed to vary from the correct period of1850 to quite modern dress. However the production overall made this a minor quibble, well done everyone.     

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