The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Once upon a time in an England that didn’t exist during the reign of King James III, Harlequin Players Club took to the stage with their production of Joan Aiken’s ‘The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, adapted for the stage by Russ Tunney. This was a delightful production incorporating performers of all ages, directed by Yvette Owen. The set design was very clever, allowing for quick transitions between scenes meaning the pace was kept up throughout the production. There was raised staging upstage, which served as interior locations, covered by a scrim. The main playing area had a number of trunks of varying sizes, which were used well throughout to indicate the train, carriage and school desks. There were some lovely directorial moments throughout the production, such as the ice skating scene which was simple, yet highly effective, and the chase through the streets of London, which included the Narrators. The raised staging did appear cramped, especially at the end with the amount of characters on it. All members of the cast were confident and assured in what they were doing, which allowed the audience to relax and watch the story unfold. The costumes and stylings of the characters added to the whimsy of the piece, with pops of colour used sparingly throughout in different costumes. The costumes of the wolves looked very good, and the geese puppets were well made and handled by the Narrators. Well done to Pam Holland for your work on these.

Technical aspects were well executed throughout this production. The lighting design was of a high standard and snappily cued as we jumped from location to location. The soundscape used helped to create a magical atmosphere. The sound balance was spot on, allowing the performers to be heard over the underscoring. Other sound effects used were well sourced and cued effectively.

Azalia Norton and Annabel Tickell did very well as the Narrators. Both displayed crystal clear diction as they narrated the story. Annabel was the standout of the pair, and was able to draw vivid pictures through her expressive words. Great job both!

Kitty Clarke-Oakes played Bonnie Green. Kitty displayed a very confident characterisation, which suited Bonnie well. The moments where Bonnie is crying could feel more authentic. Focus on the emotion behind the tears rather than the tears themselves, and the moment will feel more natural and impactful. Overall, it was a pleasing performance from Kitty.

Annie Argent-Belcher played Sylvia Green. It was great to see how the character developed throughout the play thanks to Annie’s performance. She created a great partnership with Kitty, and they worked very well together.

George Robinson played James. This was a solid and secure performance from George. His reactions throughout were very good, as he battled Miss Slighcarp’s regime. There were nice moments of comedy throughout George’s performance. Great job!

Isaac Birkett played Simon the Goose Boy. Isaac definitely looked the part, and created good relationships with the girls. There were a few moments where his projection dropped, but this was a lovely performance from Isaac.

Gwen Leadbetter played Letitia Slighcarp. Gwen was suitably evil in this role. She appeared to relish each line that she spat out at the children, whilst keeping a stoic look on her face. The styling of the character was great.

Tina Wyatt played Gertrude Brisket. Tina has a great knack for comedy, and was able to display it here in this role as the repulsive Gertrude Brisket. Her interactions with the children were spot on, as were her flirtations with the School Inspector.

Gabriele Di Potenza played Josiah Grimshaw. Gabriele was able to show different facets of the character, from the kindly stranger at the beginning of the play to Miss Slighcarp’s bumbling henchman. This was an enjoyable performance.

Adrian Grace played Sir Willoughby Drake, and a delightful cameo as the School Inspector. This was an assured and confident performance from Adrian.

Other characters were played by Becky Wollaston, Rosie Birkett, Serena Cowell, Poppy Wishart-Terry, John Booth, Jackson Birkett and Rosie Wollaston. Rosie’s Mrs Gripe was a particular standout from this ensemble. They worked well together to help move the story along.

Overall, this was an enjoyable production. There were some delightful performances from the young performers; there was clever use of staging; and the soundscape helped to create a magical atmosphere.

A big thank you to everyone at Harlequin Players Club for their kind invite.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.