Well, while there’s a brief window and you are waiting for an update on the forthcoming Shakespeare celebrations how about another dip into the archive while there’s a moment or two. Again, trying to keep with the Bardic theme, our next dalliance is with Terence Rattigan’s ‘Harlequinade’. The second part of an evening titled ‘Playbill’, this formed a lightly frivolous and humorous companion piece to ‘The Browning Version’, more of which in a future post. A farce, the play concerns a professional theatre company presenting ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on its opening night where Arthur, the lead actor, a wonderfully bewigged and beardless Tim Pearce, as an altogether passed it Romeo is horrified to be confronted by his grown up daughter (Muriel) and grandchild, of neither of whose existences he had been aware. Comedy ensues. In the safe hands of john Mackintosh this was an enjoyable conclusion to a solid evening of theatre. These photos are particularly nostalgic as a number of the actors pictured have moved on from their brief sojourn with The Matchbox, though a few are occasionally glimpsed in theatres round the area in other guises. Good natured and good fu,n my memories are wholly agreeable though my involvement limited. If I recall there was some awkward stage fighting, a wonderful balcony scene betwixt Tim and Annie, some impromptu ‘Withnail and I’ quotations and my own contention with a beard that was way too bushy for the summer months. As ever, others may have more memories and they are always welcomed but, for me, it’s time to carry on with the day job and to catch you a wee bit later on. Enjoy.
Until later
M x
The Matchblog 