Summary
Part of Terry Pratchett's
Discworld series, this is a mystical fantasy comedy based on
Shakespeare's MacBeth, in which three witches meddle in royal politics
and battle against frightful odds to put the rightful king on the
throne. Something is rotten in the Kingdom of Lancre. It has been taken
over by a somewhat unhinged tyrant, after Duke Felmet has murdered his
cousin, King Verence 1 of Lancre. The three witches (the wyrd sisters) -
the fearsome Granny Weatherwax, the easy going Nanny Ogg and the timid
Magrat Garlick - realise that the land is not happy with its current
ruler and that something needs to be done. After King Lancre's crown and
his abandoned baby son, named Tomjon, have been given to them by an
escaping servant, the three witches then hand the crown and the child to
a troupe of traveling actors, acknowledging that destiny will eventually
take its course and that Tomjon will grow up to defeat Duke Felmet.
However, the kingdom is angry and doesn't want to wait 15 years. So,
using sorcery and magic, the three witches hatch a plan to reinstate the
King's natural heir by moving the kingdom 15 years into the future so
that Tomjon will be old enough to take the crown and become king. This
is an ambitious plan which has some unexpected results!!!
NODA REVIEW OF 'WYRD SISTERS'
Terry pratchett's fantasy,
Discworld, clashed with the Pentyrch Village Hall, in December, with a
chuckling and not too reverent parody of Macbeth. It helps to have a
knowledge of Shakespeares's play and an understanding of Pratchett's
strange world to unravel the plot - starting with the weird sisters who
are three benign witches - every village should have one. The matriarch
witch, Granny Weatherwax, the maternal Nanny Ogg and the junior witch
Magrat Garlick, well played and contrasted characters by Ruth Crowder,
Tracy Richards, and Menna Davies, have a baby and a crown thrust upon
them which they immediately off-load to a troupe of strolling players.
The baby is heir to king Verence, who was murdered by his cousin Duke
Felmet, a spluttering performance by Ian Jones, pre-occupied in guilt
ridden hand washing, dominated by a blood-lusting Duchess, sternly
played by Siān Davies. The child grows up to be Tomjon (Richard Jones),
a prominent strolling player and, when all is revealed, doesn't want to
be King. Do try and keep up! But that's all right because, unbeknown,
the charismatic Jester (Dai Williams) is his brother - so he can take
over. It's all a bit of fun with enough laughs to make it a good
alternative to pantomime. Overseeing the play and acting as narrator,
Phil Davies did a sterling job in humorously linking the twenty three
vignette scenes and participating in the action. A large cast gave good
support as courtiers, guards, peasants etc. and the staging, although
basically simple, allowed the many scenes to move swiftly. Director
Martyn Lench, was brave and adventurous in undertaking such a complex
play and staging for his debut production but can be well pleased with
the result.
Reviewed by Frank Wooles
Cast
Granny Weatherwax Ruth
Crowder
Nanny Ogg Tracy
Richards
Magrat Garlick Menna
Davies
Duke Felmet Ian Jones
Lady Felmet Siān
Davies
Fool Dai Williams
Vitoller / Narrator Phil Davies
Mrs Vitoller Heather
Major
Demon Steve Williams
King Verence John
Major
Hywel Huw Williams
Tomjon Richard Jones
Robbers Rhys
Stapleton, Simon Jones, Huw Williams, Richard Jones, Mark Gerry
Peasants / Players
Rhys Stapleton, Simon Jones, Mark Gerry, Sara Pickard, Steve Williams,
George Atkins, Sue O'Halloran
Chamberlain George
Atkins
Death Sue O'Halloran
Bedlin Rhys Stapleton
Gumridge Brenda
Slaughter
Witches 1, 2 and 3
Heather Major, Jenna Claridge, Karen Claridge
Production Team
Director/Producer Martyn Lench
Assistant Director
Anne Morris
Stage Manager Wayne Brewer
Assistant Stage Manager Raynor Phinnemore
Properties Raynor Phinnemore
Set Design & Construction Wayne
Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Nathan Brown,
Back Stage Wayne Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Nathan Brown, Josh Cripp
Lighting / Sound Wayne Brewer
Wardrobe Francis Winter
Make Up Rhiannon Doller,
Zara Jones
Business Manager Helen Page
Business Team Richard
Jones, Helen Page, Bob Petersen, Sue O'Halloran
Photography Dai Williams
Front of House Manager Bob Petersen
Front of House Members and Friends of
Hilltop
Box Office Heather Major |