It is a brave company that is prepared to present Shakespeare outdoors in an English summer in a mosquito-infested forest glade. But The Villagers are just such a company and their enthusiasm and commitment in travelling their shows round Hampshire, helping local charities as they go, is highly commendable. But presenting Shakespeare makes considerable demands on a company, and this famous tale of ‘star-crossed lovers’ fell some way short of the mark, particularly in respect of understanding and delivering the verse. As the lovers, Mark Butler and Gina Manners (the latter sharing the role on alternate evenings) were at their best when separated by fate, rather than when together in love, but both needed to slow down when speaking and move less during the soliloquies. In a large supporting cast, Ian Wright’s well-meaning Friar Laurence stood out strongly, but the production lacked discipline and direction, and several potentially memorable moments were lost.
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