Lady Windermere

Megan Abbott

Lord Windermere

David Wagg

Lord Darlington

Matthew Kerslake

Lord Augustus

Peter Fiddling

Cecil Graham

Matthew Austin

Dumby

Chip Carpenter

Duchess of Berwick

Stevie Brooks

Lady Agatha

Gemma Brooks

Parker

James Golder

Mrs Erlynne

Jenny Lewis

Mr Hopper

Ed Sinclair

Lady Plymdale

Monica Gregory

Lady Fedburgh

Claire Todd

Lady Studfield / Rosalie

Hana Reizl

Mrs Cowper Cowper

Audrey Wootton

 It is indeed a brave man (or group) that takes on Oscar Wilde. Yes, you get some beautifully written words, but you also get an awful lot of them to remember. I had never seen a presentation of Lady Windermere’s Fan (professional or amateur) and as the lights dimmed in Watlington Players’ opening night I was full of anticipation.
The story is typically Wilde with confusion, misunderstanding, honour and reputation all playing a part.
Lord Windermere’s association with a disreputable woman called Mrs Erlynne is the talk of London society and when Lady Windermere finds out her husband is paying her large sums of money, she is distraught. An offer of love from Lord Darlington seems her best chance of escape. Minor sub plots and a little farce fill out the four acts and it all ends happily for everyone, except perhaps Mrs Erlynne who turns out to be Lady Windermere’s mother previously thought

dead.
Consistent with all Oscar Wilde presentations I have seen, it was the script which stole the show; cleverly constructed, perceptive and sparkling with quality sound bites performed by a cast which included most of the Watlington elite.
There were good ensemble performances from Audrey Wootton, Hanna Reizl, Claire Todd, Monica Gregory and Ed Sinclair and good supporting performances from Stevie Brooks, as The Duchess of Berwick and Gemma Brooks, as the Lady Agatha. James Golder was magnificent as Butler Parker proving there are no small parts, only small performances.
The men of the cast executed themselves with distinction with nice cameos from Chip Carpenter as Dumby and Matthew Austin as Cecil Graham together with a crowd-pleasing caricature by Peter Fiddling as the hapless Lord Augustus. In the lead parts Jenny Lewis gave a solid performance as Mrs Erlynne and as Lord Darlington

Matthew Kerslake barely put a foot wrong.
David Wagg was well cast as usual and gave one of his excellent trademark performances as Lord Windermere.
The part of Lady Windermere was a difficult one to play, a large quantity of dialogue and a wide variety of emotions in the role which calls for restraint and control. A big undertaking for anyone and I thought Megan Abbott did an outstanding job, managing to show strength as well as vulnerability as Lady Windermere struggles to come to terms with her changing circumstances. Like many of the cast she seemed very aware of the volume of dialogue and sacrificed a little quality to give healthy respect to the quantity.
Congratulations to Director Andrew Prior who should be delighted. A well-presented piece with fine performances, excellent costumes and a set that earned audible gasps of appreciation.

        Stephen Hayter
        
        Friday 7th November 2008

It is a reflection of their reputation that Watlington Players is able to present a play requiring 15 performers and testament to their technical ability to produce one requiring three sets.  Act one (and four) being presented on a thrust apron with an insert style set.  When struck and the tabs opened on the main stage to reveal the set for act two there was a noticeable gasp of amazement from the audience.  Act three’s set was equally stunning.  Collectively, the male cast were strong to a man in performance and projection with excellent characterisations from both James Golder (Parker) and Peter Fiddling (Augustus).  There were also first class performances from Matt Kerslake (Darlington) and David Wagg (Windermere).

The ladies, be they Maid or Mistress, were all dressed wonderfully in costumes befitting their class or station and on the whole most gave creditable performances, though at times there was a lack of projection from some.  Jenny Lewis (Mrs Erlynne) played the part of the tortured soul hiding her guilty secret quite admirably.  Once again Megan Abbott (Lady Windermere) proved what an excellent actress she is with yet another first class performance.  Andy Prior should be proud of this fine production.

Jim Farr

NODA