“Vivat! Vivat Regina”...............

..................was Mr. Robert's choice for the play in December. A piece of history concerning the rivalry between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots and demanding fine characterisation and marathon-like performances from the main players. Robert Bolt, the author, claims that he has re-arranged the sequel of historical events to make a more interesting play, but that it is essentially accurate. The set, designed by Paul Marsh and Mr. D. Davies, was excellent and the combination of set, lights and costumes produced right regal scenes as the story developed. Congratulations to all the stage and back-stage workers and a special mention for the parents who co-operated with us in the wardrobe department.

Now to the actors. Anne Cauldwell and Judith Lyons (Mary and Elizabeth respectively) gave sturdy, full-blooded performances and the jealousy and bitterness came over to the audience as they vied with each other for power in seventeenth century Britain. Claud Nau, Mary's adviser, played sympathetically and quietly by Alan Mellor was the essence of sincerity as he followed the Queen, even to her execution. William Cecil, the scheming and efficient Chancellor of England was played by Philip Wharton whose confident approach to the part was a delight. One of the more difficult characters to portray was Lord Darnley, the fancy and later pox-ridden husband of Mary but Peter Skerret's interpretation was first class. The Lords of Scotland and the English nobles were well handled and one could mention Andrew Kay's Sir Francis Walsingham and Clive Hopkinson's Lord Bothwell.

The cameo performance of the red-faced, apple munching Ormiston, a sort of ancient Blaster Bates, was done superbly by Andrew Harris.

All in all, a good performance and congratulations to the large cast and other workers and especially Mr. Roberts who drew the many threads together as efficiently as ever.

Mr. Roy Taylor