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The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew : December 1974

What the Press said ...

Young Theatre on top form

... it was an unqualified sucess for all concerned, the best production of a play for children by children seen by me for years. People of Harrow, there is today in our town this Young Theatre with a very high standard of work and achievement ... they have found their leaders from within and have suceeded.
.... its Director Andrew Kitchen, its Costume Designer, Kay Kore, and Alan Highet, its Technical Director ....
The set was of the simplest .. and to offset those lovely, often exquisite medieval costumes, a minimum of moveable furniture and props ... the tricks and effects were done with expertise .. good, bold lighting .. and the most fantastic clothes, all authentic and made by the company. the dragon was cunningly done... only his vast red eyes were seen but they moved to point reality.
The story was told truly and clearly by Jacquie Russell as a picaresque, Mao-like student, very effective. ... a most agile jester (Chiedu Udechuku) and a gorgeous, gay clerk Juniper (Jeffrey Cole) ... the weakly Duke (Julian Flack) sent his knights ... the smiling, obliging Sir Oblong (Paul Diner) .. another knight, the cocky yes-man, was played with panache by Robert Glenister, charming and sly. ... The Baron (Alastair Allen) was a glorious supporting type in frightful stripes (and) a vast moustache so extrovertly played. His squire, a black-bearded buffoon of a Don Quixote (Jim Culverhouse) was a delight. ... The minature Mayor (Daniel Gloor) was a gem and Louise Brooks was effective as Bobblenob. .... John Graham was excellent as Dr. Moloch, so dour, learned and wicked. This genius of a professor was a cross between Lord Reith and Stanley Baxter but the sublety of playing was Mr. Graham's alone.
There were over two dozen in the cast and each deserves praise. Stage Manager was Rowena Gura and props was Philippa Kitchen, both helped by many enthusiastic assistants. Keep it up, Young Theatre !

Jack Rowley ; Harrow Observer


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