The Merriest Wives of Windsor

I was still smiling as I drove into College the following morning….Clyst Vale’s Shakespeare in Schools production of the Merry Wives of Windsor was brilliant. Performing Shakespeare is hard enough, but making it laugh-out-loud funny is quite an achievement (even if it may be truer to its 16th centruy roots). Actually, it’s not possible to do it justice in words, but it relied on the pantomime traditions of gender reversal, exaggerated gestures, a bit of slapstick, and wonderful comic timing including the awkward pause – again not an easy thing to do. The students were drawn from our Year 10 GCSE drama group and Year 12 Performing Arts group, and did the College proud in front of a paying audience at the Exeter Phoenix. For many, it was their first appearance in front of an adult audience and/or in a public venue. Congratulations to all of them, and to Mr Popert supported by Miss Ruscoe, for their direction. I know I’m biased but the rest of the audience weren’t, and it was simply excellent entertainment.

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