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Terry Pratchett’s Lords
and Ladies
Newcastle People’s
Theatre
Until Saturday 23rd July 2016
Newcastle’s People’s
Theatre may be under a major redevelopment this week but it doesn’t stop them
producing a great, fun production. They bring Terry Pratchett’s much loved
Discworld to life in a production that sees the return of the fabulous Granny
Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. The show works well on 2 levels: it is pure
entertainment but; you can draw parallels with the current world situation.
 |
| Photo: Paula Smart |
Terry
Pratchett is the author who went from being the press officer for Central
Electricity Generating Board’s nuclear power sector to best-selling writer of
both adult and children’s fiction. Many
of his books centre on Discworld - a flat disc balanced on the backs of four
elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. In what was less of a parody and became more of
a tribute to the likes of Tolkien, we were introduced to a number of great
characters and institutions. The Unseen University is the great seat of
magical learning – a place in which the concentration of magic has turned the
librarian into an orang-utan. We also have a group of witches who attempt to
keep the balance and order.
 |
| Photo: Paula Smart |
Which
brings us to Lords and Ladies.
Discworld has enjoyed peaceful times for some time. Evil has been defeated
though that doesn’t stop some people referring to them as fun times. Granny
Weatherwax (Kath Frazer) isn’t happy and is noticing that the troubles could be
returning with the reappearance of crop circles. Her friend Nanny Ogg (Val
Russell) is fully aware of her friend’s track record. Distracting the pair of
them is the fact that their apprentice Magrat (Sarah Scott) is due to marry the
King (Stuart Laidler). The big royal wedding will involve a large number of
guests, including a contingent from the Unseen University, which in turn will see
some old flames return to the scene. The “Lords and Ladies” is more of a
euphanism for the evil elves (Sebastian Potthoff, David Parker, Aphra Holland
Bonnett, Ben Heathcote, Polly Chedgzoy). They have been quiet but the young
witches on the block, led by Diamanda (Jessica Chapman), is unknowingly
stirring up trouble for the people of Lancre. Will the wedding be a success?
Will the young witches upstage Granny Weatherwax? Why are the elves lurking in
the background? All becomes apparent in this amusing production.
 |
| Photo: Paula Smart |
Irana
Brown has carefully adapted this popular Pratchett novel spoofs elements of
Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Director Hugh Keenan has kept tight control on a story that needs a
steady hand on the tiller if the various elements are to be understood by the
audience. The acting is great – the witches are as you’d imagine them from the
book. The wizards are suitably
air-headed and Casanunda (John MacDonald) is suitably dashing. Special mention
also goes to poor Ruth Gibson who spends the hottest week of the decade so far
in an orange orang-utan suit. She makes
a great librarian. This was a much more pleasing production than People’s
previous Pratchett adaptation, Carpe
Jugulum. Well worth seeing.
This review was written by Stephen
Oliver for
Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com).
Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo
on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo.
Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/previiew-lords-and-ladies-at-newcastle.html
Tickets:
Lords
and Ladies arrives at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle from Tuesday 19th
to Saturday 23rd July 2016
TICKETS:
£13.50 (Concessions £11)
WEBSITE:
www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
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