THERE are times when the gulf between professional and amateur theatre productions is as wide as the grassy stage on which the Castle Players brought their version of the Merry Wives.

This was not one of them. First time Director Mary Stastny reset the piece in Edwardian times and accentuated the original themes of gender inequality, marriage and fidelity by incorporating the suffragette movement and using a music hall theme to add colour and song.

The huge outdoor stage allowed the grandstanded audience a bird’s eye view of the comings and goings of the bustling town of Windsor. The attention to detail was impressive, with a Silver Cross pram, antique bicycles and a classic open topped bus traversing the stage.

Taking full advantage of the space, the life-size buildings were painted like illustrations from a Ladybird children’s storybook and visually connected by washing lines swaying with vintage laundry.

There were strong performances across the board, with Gordon Duffy McGhie in the central role as the rotund and ruddy Sir John Falstaff. When the persistent rain finally blew the lights in the last half-hour of the performance, it was McGhie who ad-libbed his way through and rallied the support of the audience for the show to go on until power was restored.

For priceless comedy, Marzia Aloisio and Jill Cole stole the stage as Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Their intricate plan to expose the lecherous Falstaff and humiliate jealous Frank Ford – played to perfection by Andrew Stainthorpe – was implemented amid much mirth, onstage and off. Sean Mitchell camped it up delightfully as reluctant suitor Mr Slender, and Benjamin Pearson played eccentric Frenchman Dr Caius with panache.

This performance was packed to the gunnels with the additional value of variety, music and dance, and ran until nearly 11pm. A veritable feast.

Christina McIntyre