We’ve just returned from the matinee of Lark Rise, performed by the Arreton Community Theatre Group and have to say what a brilliant production it was!
The play, adapted by Keith Dewhurst (who it’s thought once lived in Ventnor) from the trilogy by Flora Thompson was well received by the audience, despite the small numbers.
With the weather so glorious, it’s hard competition for a Saturday matinee, but we hope that some of you will all make the effort to get down to Arreton tonight for the evening performance which starts at 7.30pm.
Each and every member of the cast did a fantastic job. Samantha Howard and Glen Kopanny played the stone mason and his wife, Mr and Mrs Timms, with Christopher Pickett and Sophie Wrixon playing their dutiful children, Edmund and Laura.
Peter Boffin, Mike Favell, Richard Stratton, Ian Watterson, Michael Pearl and Mark Moss all do a fantastic job of as farm labourers, many playing extra roles.
Alan Bramley had the audience chuckling away as he performed several roles in the play. We’re not sure whether it was script or the way he delivered the words, but all the same a great performance.
Richard Stratton, a confident actor and singer, stood out as the Cheapjack and Mark Moss goes from strength to strength every time we see him in another performance.
Christine Rickards did a fabulous job of playing the prude and had us giggling away as she raised her skirts and danced around in her bloomers showing the men how it’s done.
Linda O’Connor, Tyne Samuel and Jenni Armour also put in super performances as the wives, daughters or employers.
The songs break up the performance well and should have the audience tonight clapping and singing along.
Instrumental accompaniment on the concertinas and appalachian dulcimer added great depth to the performances and all praise goes to Lin Watterson for musical direction (and marvellous concertina playing) and Mike Butler, Andrew Gibbs and Phil Barnes for their roles on the musical side.
With James Pickett and Mike Butler taking care of the sound and lighting and Lin Watterson, Andrew Gibbs and Elaine Butler doing an excellent job on the props and costumes, it only remains to congratulate Isabel Favell who directed this brilliant production.
St George’s Church can be found behind the White Lion pub in Arreton.
Tickets are priced at £6.50 for adults and £4.50 for children, or £20 for a family of four.
Don’t forget to say where you heard about it!
