All’s Wells That Ends Well
Guildford Shakespeare Company, St Nicolas Church, Guildford, October 15
This Guildford Shakespeare Company production of the bard’s early 17th century play in St Nicolas, Guildford, was innovative, animated and very watchable.
The two-hour production (was it really two hours?) shot by on a tide of fast-moving action, well delivered one-liners and believable performances.
Doff your cap for Robert Mountford as the cowardly fool Parolles, all underpinned by tracks from the best selling Fleetwood Mac album, Rumours.
The recorded sound track was more than ably assisted throughout by the piano work of Stefan Bednarczyk, who also turned in a top performance as Lafew, the Queens counsellor.
Ceri-Lyn Cissone, who as a young army officer impersonating two Russian officers, provided the comedy tour-de force of the evening.
But setting the tone was Hannah Morrish, her accomplished portrayal of both natures of the heroine, doctors daughter Helena, were seamless.
As a young woman hopelessly in love with Bertam, played more than convincingly by Gavin Fowler - the son of the Countess – a spouse Helena thought beyond her social reach, her performance was heart tugging without being cloying.
And Helena’s plan to capture his heart revealed, in Shakespearian tradition, a deviousness and determination much at odds with her romantic personae.
The main players were more than ably supported by Miranda Foster, her grasping widow in Florence was funny and convincing, and as a Queen determined to marry her favourites to whom she pleased, she delivered both comic and straight lines with panache and top timing.
The production runs at St Nicolas’ Church until November 2 before moving to London – so All’s Well That Ends Well then.
For tickets visit the website www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk or call the box office on 01483 304384.