Creative Passion Alive in Broadclyst

Theatre Review of Wyrd Sisters by journalist Daniel Mumby.

ONE of the great pleasures of watching amateur dramatics is getting to see a group develop and refine its craft over a string of productions. While faces occasionally change and the chosen material often greatly varies, there is always the feeling of incremental progress, raising a bar that has already been set very high.

I felt this way when I sat in the Broadclyst Victory Hall last Friday evening, watching the village's theatre group tackle Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters with affection and aplomb. Having come in with little to no knowledge of Pratchett's oeuvre, I came away thoroughly entertained and curious to examine more of his work.

The production succeeds at its first objective, namely interesting someone who has never encountered the author or source material before.

Sure, I smiled knowingly with all the clever nods to Shakespeare, as the story gleefully parodied key sequences from Hamlet and Macbeth. But like The Rocky Horror Show, you don't need to know all the references to get where the plot is going, or to have a good time in the process.

The cast are generally excellent, with the three principle witches each excelling in their own way. Lin Alderman is the stand-out as Nanny Ogg, playing up the rustic, buffoonish qualities of the character while also doing well in the more dead-pan moments in the stocks.

Alison Harris steps ably into Sheila Hancock's shoes as Granny Weatherwax, whose amusing ignorance of the theatre is counterpointed by her real-world resourcefulness.

Rachel Cunningham completes the set as the naive but well-meaning Magrat Garlick, who tries so hard to be accepted and endures a series of ill-fated... romantic advances (if 'romantic' is an apt description for having one's bottom pinched).

Other highlights among the cast are John Cunningham as the Fool, balancing his spiritedness and serious centre very nicely, and Dave Snell as the increasingly demented and hysterical Duke, whose hands quickly recall Griffin Dunne's ever-decaying zombie in An American Werewolf in London. If you have enjoyed his multiple turns as pantomime dame, this will please you no end.

Having nailed the fantasy trappings, thanks to some interesting set design which stretches throughout the venue, the cast are able to tease out the substance of the play.

There is a wonderful idea running through Wyrd Sisters about the power of words: how words can glorify or demonise, how history is essentially what people choose to write down and remember, and whether words are indeed mightier than physical force.

Pratchett explored these themes long before the fantastic Spirited Away brought them to life in animation, and the cast deftly bring it to life without giving us a lecture.

This was a highly entertaining production which confirms our suspicions that Broadclyst Theatre Group is continuing to grow in stature.

The fact that they have managed to recruit a plethora of new members is a sign of prosperity in itself; that these new members have been seamlessly integrated so quickly is a firm indicator of community spirit and creative passion alive and well in this little pocket of Devon.

If you missed this show, for whatever wyrd reason, do yourself a favour and make sure you don't miss their next wonderful production.