Review- The Maid of Buttermere
April 2, 2009
Date Reviewed: 26th March, 2009
Venue: Theatre By The Lake, Keswick
“The Maid of Buttermere” is set in 1802, in the early days of tourism in the Lakes. The story tells the tale of Mary Robinson, a staggeringly beautiful innkeeper’s daughter from Buttermere. Joseph Budworth, author of the 1792 “A Fortnight’s Ramble in the Lakes”, an early travel guide, says she “looked like an angel and I doubt not but that she is the reigning lily of the valley”.
Melvyn Bragg’s novel, on which the play is based, is nearly 500 pages long, which is about 300 pages longer than the story it tells needs. Lisa Evans has done an excellent job in turning Bragg’s slightly leaden prose into an enthralling drama, clearing out what she calls “the dead hand of information” which pads so much of the book, and also injecting an occasional welcome note of humour totally lacking in the original. The references to the absurdities of southern tourists were greeted with
amusement by the largely local audience - clearly some things haven’t
changed in 200 years.
The conman and bigamist John Hatfield, masquerading as the aristocratic
Colonel Hope, while “fishing” for a wealthy bride, falls genuinely in love
with Mary Robinson while also angling after the improbably named heiress
Amaryllis D’Arcy, played with gushing enthusiasm by Frances Marshall.
Jonathan Keeble is excellent as Hope/Hatfield. While undoubtedly a “love
rat”, his easy charm manages to keep the audience’s sympathy, and he
confronts the dilemma of choosing a loveless marriage for money or following
his heart utterly convincing. His side-kick Newton is played with sinister
relish by Howard Chadwick, and Rebecca Pownall as Mary skilfully treads the
difficult tight-rope of being guileless without appearing gormless. Tim
Barker as the innkeeper in Keswick is a plausible dupe to Hope, and his
Cumbrian accent is the strongest - not surpisingly since he is a native
Cumbrian who has translated Shakespeare into the local dialect. Maggie
Tagney as Mary’s friend Kitty takes on the roll of Greek chorus, helping
move the action along.
Set designer Martin Johns has devised a rotating central carousel which
allows the action to move quickly between Buttermere, Keswick, Morecombe
Sands, a prison cell and Carlisle.
One of the most enjoyable things about “The Maid of Buttermere” is the
involvement of the 36-strong community chorus, including teachers, students,
an architect and a train driver, as well as the theatre’s finance officer.
These are local people who act alongside the professionals. They provide
the crowd scenes and have been choreographed beautifully - sometimes there
are over 40 people on the relatively small stage, moving seamlessly. Indeed
the scene at a rural fair even has a convincing display of Cumberland
wrestling.
“The Maid of Buttermere”, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, until April 18.
Box Office 01768-774411
Alan Sykes
Comments
Got something to say?
-
Recent Posts
Advertisement
Other Regional Sites