Walking down the High Street in Colne a few weeks ago, I noticed a poster for a play called “Playhouse Creatures” and it looked extremely interesting. I wanted to go but we weren’t going to be in East Lancashire when the production was scheduled to be on.
A few days later an invitation appeared on our Facebook page – the final year acting students from Blackpool and the Fylde College were putting on “Playhouse Creatures” in the Studio at the Grand Theatre on Thursday, 17th March. Lauren Carr – Miss Radio Wave 2010 and Miss Blackpool finalist – was appearing – would we like to attend? What an amazing coincidence. Would we!
With a little re-organising we were able to attend and also able to have tea at the newly-opened Blackpool branch of Nando’s opposite the Grand - but that’s another story!
I was swept away by the extremely high standard of acting of all those who appeared in “Playhouse Creatures”. It was obvious that a great deal of hard work and background research had gone into the preparation of the production. I had not seen the play before but came away refreshed, inspired and knowing just a little more than I did before. The story, for those who don’t know is of the trials and tribulations of the first women to act on the stage in this country. Prior to the reign of Charles II, only men could act – think “Shakespeare in Love”. It calls for a wide range of age groups and backgrounds and all those who took part made us believe we were in a 1660s London theatre.
In this modern day and age it is quite difficult for us to imagine how people actually were back in those days - apart from paintings, books and diaries etc so this 1997 work by April de Angelis really does give a fascinating insight.
Well acted throughout - wonderful scenery and delivery, humorous at times and sad at others, we really enjoyed this production and feel that you would be hard pushed to find a superior version performed by any professional company.
Thank you to all who took part and especially to Lauren – once again – for telling us about the event. We felt we were watching the stars of the future.
Cast:
Mrs Marshall- Alison Burns
Mrs Farley- Linda Dixon
Nell Gwyn- Keleigh Denise Beasley
Doll Common-Tierny Booth.
Mrs Betterton- Lauren Carr
Mrs Barry-Helen Wright.
Otway-Thomas Briggs.
Earl of Rochester/ Wit -Stuart King.
Lucy London
