No 37 -- Summer 1991 Edited by Michael Walters
The set and costumes of Rederring village were familiar from previous productions I'd seen. However, the second act set was very sparsely decorated, the necessary prop sword merely parked in a convenient niche, not on the wall as one of a pair of crossed swords. Apart from Robin's ridiculous first act costume, the clothes were as they should be. However James Dinsmore (Robin) is tall, and the knee–length checked trousers and white hose was not what I have become accustomed to, and did not suit him; this minor detail did not detract from an excellent, thoroughly OTT, performance. Excellent performances also came from David Craig (Sir Despard), Celia Craig (Mad Margaret), Walter Anderson (Dick), Elizabeth Stark (Dame Hannah) and a little gem from Gordon Crockert as a small, doddery Old Adam. Margaret Smith (Rose) is a powerful soprano; she, too, is quite tall and a perfect match for Robin. Bob McCrum (Sir Roderic) could have been more dominant, but otherwise played well.
Producer Alan Jones did not have many innovations, but I did like, when Ruthven says "I'm not as bad a Bart as all thart", both he and Adam did a walking step in harmony, which neatly emphasised the line, and raised a laugh. MD Stanley Thomson was taken ill near the performance, so American Jerry Ulrich stepped into the breach most satisfactorily.
LINDA WOOD
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