No 7 — July 1977 Edited by Michael Walters
This confection written by Richard Moore and Granville Walker deserved a better performance than it got on the night I attended, before an audience mainly composed, it seems, of parents. Granville Walker was musical director and Richard Moore produced and played the Sheriff of Nottingham. The story, needless to say, is an extravaganza after (a long time after) the hero of Sherwood Forest. The plot is excessively complicated, and needed much better diction than the students were able to give it; I found it very difficult to follow. Richard Moore has a very good line in witty lyrics and is an expert at playing with words, alas, they just couldn't be heard on this occasion. Malcolm Griffiths tried very hard as Rubin, and managed very well, though he was evidently finding the length of the part a bit of a strain. The performance of the evening was Andrew King as Wart the Magician (i.e. Merlin; now how did he get into Sherwood Forest - I told you it was a complicated plot, didn't I?). Richard Moore (it was the first time I had seen him on the stage) is evidently a good actor but was completely miscast as the Sheriff. He has juvenile lead looks and did not begin to look the villainous Sheriff he was supposed to be (a beard would have helped.) It was a fascinatingly interesting, but rather marathonic evening! MICHAEL WALTERS
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