Summary

Part of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, this is a mystical fantasy comedy based on Shakespeare's MacBeth, in which three witches meddle in royal politics and battle against frightful odds to put the rightful king on the throne. Something is rotten in the Kingdom of Lancre. It has been taken over by a somewhat unhinged tyrant, after Duke Felmet has murdered his cousin, King Verence 1 of Lancre. The three witches (the wyrd sisters) - the fearsome Granny Weatherwax, the easy going Nanny Ogg and the timid Magrat Garlick - realise that the land is not happy with its current ruler and that something needs to be done. After King Lancre's crown and his abandoned baby son, named Tomjon, have been given to them by an escaping servant, the three witches then hand the crown and the child to a troupe of traveling actors, acknowledging that destiny will eventually take its course and that Tomjon will grow up to defeat Duke Felmet. However, the kingdom is angry and doesn't want to wait 15 years. So, using sorcery and magic, the three witches hatch a plan to reinstate the King's natural heir by moving the kingdom 15 years into the future so that Tomjon will be old enough to take the crown and become king. This is an ambitious plan which has some unexpected results!!!

NODA REVIEW OF 'WYRD SISTERS'

Terry pratchett's fantasy, Discworld, clashed with the Pentyrch Village Hall, in December, with a chuckling and not too reverent parody of Macbeth. It helps to have a knowledge of Shakespeares's play and an understanding of Pratchett's strange world to unravel the plot - starting with the weird sisters who are three benign witches - every village should have one. The matriarch witch, Granny Weatherwax, the maternal Nanny Ogg and the junior witch Magrat Garlick, well played and contrasted characters by Ruth Crowder, Tracy Richards, and Menna Davies, have a baby and a crown thrust upon them which they immediately off-load to a troupe of strolling players. The baby is heir to king Verence, who was murdered by his cousin Duke Felmet, a spluttering performance by Ian Jones, pre-occupied in guilt ridden hand washing, dominated by a blood-lusting Duchess, sternly played by Siân Davies. The child grows up to be Tomjon (Richard Jones), a prominent strolling player and, when all is revealed, doesn't want to be King. Do try and keep up! But that's all right because, unbeknown, the charismatic Jester (Dai Williams) is his brother - so he can take over. It's all a bit of fun with enough laughs to make it a good alternative to pantomime. Overseeing the play and acting as narrator, Phil Davies did a sterling job in humorously linking the twenty three vignette scenes and participating in the action. A large cast gave good support as courtiers, guards, peasants etc. and the staging, although basically simple, allowed the many scenes to move swiftly. Director Martyn Lench, was brave and adventurous in undertaking such a complex play and staging for his debut production but can be well pleased with the result.

 Reviewed by Frank Wooles

Cast

Granny Weatherwax                   Ruth Crowder

Nanny Ogg                                    Tracy Richards

Magrat Garlick                               Menna Davies

Duke Felmet                                  Ian Jones

Lady Felmet                                  Siân Davies

Fool                                                 Dai Williams

Vitoller / Narrator                         Phil Davies

Mrs Vitoller                                    Heather Major

Demon                                           Steve Williams

King Verence                               John Major

Hywel                                             Huw Williams

Tomjon                                          Richard Jones

Robbers                                        Rhys Stapleton, Simon Jones, Huw Williams, Richard Jones, Mark Gerry

Peasants / Players                     Rhys Stapleton, Simon Jones, Mark Gerry, Sara Pickard, Steve Williams, George Atkins, Sue O'Halloran

Chamberlain                                George Atkins

Death                                             Sue O'Halloran

Bedlin                                            Rhys Stapleton

Gumridge                                     Brenda Slaughter

Witches 1, 2 and 3                      Heather Major, Jenna Claridge, Karen Claridge

Production Team

Director/Producer                      Martyn Lench

Assistant Director                      Anne Morris

Stage Manager                           Wayne Brewer

Assistant Stage Manager        Raynor Phinnemore

Properties                                   Raynor Phinnemore

Set Design & Construction    Wayne Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Nathan Brown,

Back Stage                                 Wayne Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Nathan Brown, Josh Cripp

Lighting / Sound                       Wayne Brewer

Wardrobe                                    Francis Winter

Make Up                                      Rhiannon Doller, Zara Jones

Business Manager                   Helen Page

Business Team                         Richard Jones, Helen Page, Bob Petersen, Sue O'Halloran

Photography                             Dai Williams

Front of House Manager        Bob Petersen

Front of House                         Members and Friends of Hilltop

Box Office                                  Heather Major