Feb
12th
Lysistrata
By Elspeth Rae
I felt a bit perplexed as I entered
the auditorium of the Palace Theatre Watford to find it packed full
of mid-teenage girls, with a few lads dotted about. Although there
were a number of adults there and I perhaps exaggerate the ratio of
teenager to adult, they did seem to make up a rather large portion
of the audience. It was only when I read the programme and later
when I went home and properly read the press pack that I realised
this production of Lysistrata was not perhaps what I had thought it
was going to be.
As part of their contract with Herts County Council, Watford Palce will be touring this production throughout various schools in the county with a performance also taking place in St Albans on 26th February. For this reason the performance is perhaps not suitable for our usual UKTheatre.net theatre-goer, however certain aspects deserve a mention. For me the performance served perfectly its purpose. Ingenious and at times laugh out loud funny, it will capture the imagination of the young student watching it and make studying for a GCSE in Ancient Greek much more enjoyable. I was particularly impressed by Michaela Kemp's set design and Delyth Jones direction. The resourcefulness of the team- using mannequins as people and costume change hangers as well as the obvious musical talents of the girls really impressed me.
Although Natalie Wilcox as Lysistrata was capable and convincing enough she never felt particularly at ease in her role. It was rather Becky Barry in a number of roles who stole the show, both with the range of instruments she played, but more specifically with her astounding ability to adapt to either gender of any age. This production of Lysistrata will serve its purpose wonderfully, exciting people of a young age who are being bored senseless by GCSE Greek!
As part of their contract with Herts County Council, Watford Palce will be touring this production throughout various schools in the county with a performance also taking place in St Albans on 26th February. For this reason the performance is perhaps not suitable for our usual UKTheatre.net theatre-goer, however certain aspects deserve a mention. For me the performance served perfectly its purpose. Ingenious and at times laugh out loud funny, it will capture the imagination of the young student watching it and make studying for a GCSE in Ancient Greek much more enjoyable. I was particularly impressed by Michaela Kemp's set design and Delyth Jones direction. The resourcefulness of the team- using mannequins as people and costume change hangers as well as the obvious musical talents of the girls really impressed me.
Although Natalie Wilcox as Lysistrata was capable and convincing enough she never felt particularly at ease in her role. It was rather Becky Barry in a number of roles who stole the show, both with the range of instruments she played, but more specifically with her astounding ability to adapt to either gender of any age. This production of Lysistrata will serve its purpose wonderfully, exciting people of a young age who are being bored senseless by GCSE Greek!
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