Merrie England

Synopsis

Merrie England was originally written for the Savoy Theatre in 1902. Edward German's patriotic pageant deals with love and rivalries at the court of Queen Elizabeth I as the monarch visits the townsfolk of Windsor to celebrate May Day. With a plot that includes such historical personages as Sir Walter Raleigh and the Earl of Essex, murder plots and tales of witchcraft unravel to the background of the May Day revels...

Our Review:

29 May 2012

Edward German and Basil Hood's Merrie England is the epitome of rollicking good fun - light, frivolous, old-fashioned yet timely, and packed with witty songs, charming countryfolk and aloof courtiers. Written in 1902 and last performed in London in 1960, this comic opera has now been dusted off by the Finborough in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as part of their "Celebrating British Music Theatre" series.

Fitting a cast of 21 into the Finborough's compact performance area isn't easy but director Alex Sutton somehow creates space along with pace. From the opening, with the crowning of Jamie Birkett's May Queen, through the unfolding of the slight plot involving sub-Shakespearean characters losing and finding love, to the rousing finale, the cast perform with gusto and then some.

The parallel plot about the violent treatment of those deemed to be witches by the fearful countryfolk gives the production some edge and there's a bit of history in th...

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Latest User Review

Rob - 12 June 2012:

I have recently attended two musical productions in tiny theatres - 'Merrie England' at the Finborough and 'Jekyll and Hyde' at the Union.Both of the productions were magnificent and worthy of a longer run in larger theatres. The sheer energy and and effort put into 'Merrie England'by the cast and support crew made this a tour de force to challenge some major West End and touring productions.Long live these tiny London theatres providing high quality musical theatre on a shoestring....

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