“THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR”

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26186, 9 August 1950, Page 3

“THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR”

AVONSIDE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION

Their usual high standard of entertainment was well maintained by pupils of the Avonside Girls’ Hign School, when they presented “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in the Radiant Theatre last evening. This is an amusing play, with a very flimsy plot. The very obviousness of its humour makes it not an easy play to perform well. These girls made admirable work of it. Particularly commendable was the evident team work. The success of the presentation did not depend solely on the merits of the leading players; those with minor roles obviously entered into the enjoyment of the play and many of them gave spirited and understanding performances. Some of the voices were rather thin, and some of the players tended to rush their lines at times; but on the whole the speech was clear. Some of the leading players showed a good variety of tone. There was a refreshing lack of prompting. Petronia Meads made a convincingly bluff and swaggering Falstaff. Her make-up and costume were excellent. Jan Beaumont as Anne Page, Claire Nuttall as Mistress Page and Leslie Fanks as Mistress Ford had mastered the spirit of the play well. Their costumes were attractive, but Mistress Ford and Mistress Page could, with advantage, have been made up to look rather older. Their appearance made Falstaff’s moral aberrations little to be wondered at. Other members of this competent cast were Alison Grant. Ann Wederell, Pamela Keen. Beverley Sinclair. Helen Macdonald, Jean Mitchell, Elma Fraser, Janet Thorpe, Irene Smillie, Margaret Cannington, Terrelaine Kennedy, Eeverley Mitchell. Lesley Jones, Elaine Hubert, Margery Mitchell, Betty Fraser. Hanna, Beverley Plan, Helen McPherson. Gwen Jebson and Laurel Watts. Considerable imagination was shown on the settings, and good use was made of lighting. Music was provided bv the school orchestra. The money raised by the performance. which will be repeated this evening, wil 1 be used to assist needy children m’erseas.