The Village School

 

A joint production , Redlynch Players and Fordingbridge Players

I have to confess that I had never heard of the “Miss Read”  novels until  I attended Redlych Players excellent production of “Thrush Green” which director Ron Perry had adapted for the stage in 2017. Since then I have  enjoy several other plays based on Miss Read novels, all brilliantly adapted for the stage by Ron Perry . Village School was the first Miss Read book to be publish in 1955,  It received excellent review and it later became a set book for CSE English which I understand is how my wife first came across Miss Read.

The Redlynch Village hall was set up to look like the Village School in the fictional village of Fairacre , where the action all takes place. The audience seating was set up  down each side of the hall  with the classroom seating  down the centre of the hall and a small stage at either end.   For this production the Bar was set up outside the “School “ and the wonderful bar staff were dressed in character serving  drinks and greeting the audience as they arrived.

The 14 strong cast who created this play all gave wonderful performances, many of them doubling up, playing the role of the school pupils and also portraying the smaller adult roles of the story line.  It was wonderful to note their transformation of character and there were several quick changes required. The main roles in the play were all excellent portrayals, but in my opinion , the school teacher  “Miss Read” and the School cleaner who was also the local gossip “Mrs Pringle” were both outstanding performances.

The storyline covers the autumn term when there are rumours that there are plans to close the small school down and transport the children to larger one several miles away. As one would expect there are lots of opinions when the villagers clash with the local authority.  I thought that the direction was inspirational, the diction and delivery of the script was excellent throughout. There were some wonderful comic laugh out loud moments and also at times that it was very moving and emotional. The end scene was so well done that it left my wife in tears.

Once again this small community group, in the heart of the New Forest, delivered a  production of a very high standard that was enthralling and was very enjoyable. It left me wanting more, my congratulations go to all concerned

 Copies of Ron Perrys plays can be purchased on Amazon.  Over the last few years My wife Sarah and I have  both become big fans of his work and look forward to the day when perhaps another theatre group will decide to produce one of his excellent plays.

 

 

 

 

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