The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew

 So, this is the story of days gone by when knights slay dragons for the duke and an unscrupulous Baron rules the Bolligrew islands, which also is home to a fierce dragon. The initial set was good with bright chair covers and a tablecloth. There was a raised platform at the back of the stage and two raised levels at either side of the stage. These were used well throughout the performance. The church ruin was cleverly assembled by cast on stage and worked well. The dragon’s den was black with lots of smoke and the dragon’s green eyes were a good visual effect. I did feel that a backdrop would have enhanced the scenery of Bolligrew Island. The costumes were bright and colourful, and a special mention must go to the designer of the magpie costumes. These were created superbly with beautiful feather heads. Also, the dragon tails were visually effective, and I thought this was a clever addition to the props. Sir Oblong Fitz Oblong – this was a very large part to undertake but I was impressed with his clarity and full commitment to the character. There was a very long speech about rebuilding the ruined church, which was greatly appreciated by the audience. Baron Bolligrew – again another large role played well. Professor Beelzebub Molock – a wicked character whose powerful magic could take over the mind of his victim. This part was played well with good diction and clarity. The Lord Mayor – portrayed well as a nervous and shaking man, scared of Baron Bolligrew. The Dragon – we could not always hear everything that the dragon was saying. The microphone was booming and muffled at times. Magpie – I loved this character especially the song and dance routine. There were several members of the cast that were playing multiple parts in this performance. They did well to accomplish their costume changes. Well done to all the cast and crew for a good performance. Thank you so much for inviting me and I look forward to your next production

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