The Shakespeare Garden Players, an ensemble created to mark the centenary of the garden, used the rich assortment of paths, lawns, flowerbeds, hedges and woodland verges to full advantage, blending selected excerpts from some of Shakespeare’s best-known plays with sonnets to create an eclectic bouquet of comedy and tragedy. The capacity audience was guided to each performance area by a Victorian-costumed lady. This character, based on an actual person from Manchester, progressively told her story throughout the promenade, whilst giving some social commentary from around the time of the park’s inception.
Julie Root as the Victorian Lady was perfectly in character in an impeccably authentic black costume, putting each selection in context whilst taking audience to each performer, variously awaiting them from amidst the foliage or emerging from varied entrances. A nice added touch was the recruitment of audience members into minor roles, giving an inclusive feel to the celebration of the bard.
Toby Hadoke brought lively comedy to the evening, particularly as Bottom from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, appearing genuinely surprised at finding he had donkey’s ears. Mark Rowlands created a memorable Malvolio, leaping onto a park bench in delight upon finding an apparent love letter. Mary Gerardine Hooton expressively delivered a soul-searching sonnet from an ornamentally hedged lawn but as a playful queen Titania, quite literally led audience members down the garden path.
Rebecca Fenwick showed great versatility in initially giving us a happy romantic girl playing amidst the trees to the disconsolate Orphelia from Hamlet, mournfully singing as she outlined her tragedy, giving flowers to the audience. Guy Michael Thompson looked every inch the Shakespearian romantic hero, with his neatly trimmed beard, powerfully delivering lines whilst flexing his well-toned biceps. Nadia Watson, having sensitively portrayed Viola from ‘Twelfth Night’ fittingly brought the evening to a close, delivering the epilogue from ‘As You Like It’, from the flight of stone steps leading to the balcony level above the garden.
The evening had the good fortune to be blessed with a warm climate and clear sky, and the enthusiastic response of the audience suggested that the evening has every chance of becoming an annual event (or should that be hardy annual?). This was an imaginative concept which was well put together and delivered with genuine feeling and enthusiasm, admirably giving a good insight into some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters.
Reviewer - John Waterhouse
on - 7.8.22
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