MY
COUSIN RACHEL
Directed by
Bobbie Day
CAST
David Hartley
Brainne Edge
Roy Brooks
Nick Dodd
Jonathon Barraclough
Joanne Jones
Michael Prendergas
NODA Review
First of all I must say this was not a good adaptation of
Du Maurier's well known work.
By its nature, it is a wordy play and because of this, more
attention is paid to the players, set and costumes.
The set was adequate and transformed well once Rachel had
settled in, and the costumes were excellent.
There is always a problem with any costume drama: not only
have the costumes to look right but the players have to
walk and act in a manner which is different from their
norm.
On the whole, the ladies succeeded better than the men. My
congratulations go to the Chairman, Roy Brooks, who played
the servant Secombe, with a heavy cold and a diminishing
voice. He made sure the show went on. Well done, Roy, and I
hope you are soon back in the rudest of health.
Someone said to me recently that amateur theatre was dying
and the members were getting older and older: not in
Chorley! I think that we need not worry when we see the
fruits of the youth theatres coming through into the adult
societies' productions las they are doing at Chorley. The
young people are the future and we must encourage their
participation.
Young Nick Dodd had very little to do but there are no
small parts and what he did, he did very well indeed. I
loved the accent.
Jonathon Barraclough played Philip Ashley, a quite morose
young man who falls for his cousin and in the end causes
her death.
This was a large part for one so young and in the main he
succeeded in getting the character across.
There was just a little more light and shade needed, some
of which only come with experience, but still, it was a
creditable performance. Louise Kendall, played by Brainne
Edge, lit up the stage each time she appeared. This was a
lovely characterisation and a performance she can be proud
of.
David Hartley's Nicholas Kendall required a little more
thought: his delivery was fine but his posture and
demeanour were not quite right for those of a father of
that period.
It was a good attempt for one who was playing someone much
older than himself.
Rachel, played by Joanne Jones, gave a controlled and
convincing portrayal of this complex character.
Michael Prendergast as Antonio Rainaldi looked right but
unfortunately words were lost because of the attempt at an
Italian accent.
It did get better when he was facing the audience.
This was, on the whole, a good shot at not the best of
scripts,and had some lovely moments of theatre in it.
