Theatre Reviews by Phyl Romeril for Local Guardian

Wadham Players Theatre Group – I Have Five Daughters

A busy but enjoyable week ended on a light note with the comedy I Have Five Daughters, adapted from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Margaret Macnamar.

Wadham Players surpassed themselves with this show which included several new members in major roles. There can be no one who is unaware of this particular story.

I personally had not seen this edition of the story and as it was presented by Wadham Players it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

An outstanding performance was given award-winning actress Elaine Elliott, whose anxious match-making Mrs Bennett set a high standard for the daughters and the rest of the cast to live up to.

Stephen Jacobs - I believe this was his first major role - played Mr Bennett with great aplomb. He introduced sufficient humour into his dialogue to take the edge off his long suffering life with a social climbing wife and five daughters.

Collectively the girls created their own personalities. The two yound ones, Katy Grundy and Christiana Christodoulou, were like a breath of spring air.

June gray was nicely restrained and gentle as opposed to the more vivacious Elizabeth. Suzanne Macpherson was an animated Elizabeth - her outburst of anger jarred a little, a slightly more dignified bestowal of her wrath in keeping with the period would perhaps have further enhanced her portrayal.

Matthew Jones was every inch a Mr Darcy. Handsome and aloof, he presented, by way of first class characterisatioin, a clever painting of this complex personality.

Matthew Mitchell has a pleasant stage presence and easily fitted himself into the happy-go-lucky Charles Bingley.

We had Andy as the zealous Mr Collins, Zoe Watkins as the sensible young Charlotte and Alison Rhodes as a rather unpleasant Caroline Bingley.

This was a play with a large cast, all of whom performed correctly and well. The grouping presented some memorable pictures with a most attractive set designed and painted by Bob Gray, David Housden and Keith Cummings, and beautiful costumes designed and handmade by Christine Powell.

Director Michael Michael had a cast and back stage crew to be well pleased with.