Silchester Players

D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers presented by Silchester Players was a jolly musical romp through the old well loved story.

Mack Flemington's original and highly amusing script served the talented cast well and they in turn responded to the zany situations and great fun was had by all.

The humour in this production whilst not unsuitable for small children, was rooted in a sophisticated vein.  This was much appreciated by the adults and provided many moments of hilarity.

D'Artagnan was played by Paul Kelly with dashing charm and the other Musketeers Aramis, Porthos and Athos were particularly well portrayed by Keith Graham, Gary Belcher and Mack Flemington.  Special mention must go to Nigel Clarke's wonderful hunchback character Hartslime, and Pam Singfield made a charming and most attractive Mireille.

I particularly enjoyed Janet Taylor's incongruous Christmas Tree Fairy and John Davis' Cardinal Richelieu proved to be both wicked and entertaining.  A large supporting cast gave enthusiastic and professional back-up to the principals.

The standard of presentation was superb, with some delightfully painted sets and some very colourful and detailed costumes.  The lighting was effective and the many sound effects well cued.  The original music by Paul Kelly and Stephen Oliver was both catchy and well handled and these were to me, the musical highlights of the show.

There were moments when the continuity could have been improved but these are small criticisms of a highly original show which gave great pleasure to the audience.

Silchester Players show a touch of originality in their current production playing at Silchester Village Hall with D'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers which is intended to be a musical play but is really a pantomime.

Written by Mack Flemington, who is one of the members of the society, it is a glorious packet of nonsense with not too much attention paid to the original story.

It is amazing what a variety of material is used for this show, ranging from the Hallelujah Chorus to 'Oom-pah-pah' from 'Oliver', from nuns in good voice singing in Latin to three daring girls dancing the can-can and for absurdity, the nuns and three musketeers also showing their legs in trying to emulate the dancing girls.

Mack Flemington as Athos, is one of the Musketeers with Keith Graham as Aramis and Gary Belcher as Porthos.  For the title role of D'Artagnan Paul Kelly is a bundle of energy and of course a swordsman of the highest degree.

There are swordfights, hooded characters and a fairy, characterised by Janet Taylor, who looks more like a Christmas tree in her finery.

One of the main characters is Cardinal Richelieu played by John Davis who enters into the plot in an amusing way and makes the most of his lines but it is his bungling attendant Hartslime who steals much of the limelight.  As a hunchback he twists his body in all sorts of shapes.

The plot opens with a dialogue between Monsieur and Madame le Frog played by Ian Davenport and Bryony Paton and they are followed by the chorus in a market place scene.

There is a romantic touch with D'Artagnan winning his lovely Mirrielle played by Pam Singfield and there is also the lovely Milady de Winter decked in fine clothes and portrayed by Marilyn Clarke.  Another playing an important part is Gaynor Keefe, the innkeeper.

There are demons made to look more hideous through imaginative lighting and playing the part of King and Queen are Ian Davenport and Liz Robertson.  Settings are good although not elaborate and the script, if corny at times, humorous.

The motto of the Three Musketeers, who do so much to keep the show together is 'All for One and One for All' and that sums up the success of this show for without excellent teamwork it would not be possible.

Mack Flemington, in addition to writing the script, directed, assisted by his wife Margaret, with Paul Kelly the musical director.

Patrons of the Silchester Players now look forward to the next production in May, which is to be a thriller, Diana Morgan's 'Time To Kill'.

The members of the SIlchester Players are an enthusiastic and ingenious band of performers as can be seen in the current presentation of the revue Silchester Follies which continues today and tomorrow at Silchester Village Hall.

What an innovation it is to resurrect Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe who emerge from their graves through a cloud of mist and the claim is made on a circular that these two stars of the past are to appear 'as you've never seen them before.'

It is a piece of impersonation, perhaps not in the best of taste, but it is brilliantly performed by Wendy Roper and Ian Rapley, looking ghostly as they sing the words 'When I'm dead and gone.'  The names on the two gravestones are Norma Jean and Elvis Aron.

The rest of the programme is in no ways as macabre and continues much wit in the various turns.  The opening number by the chorus in 'Sing a Song' has only limited movement with modest singing, but I thought there is much more life and melody in the finale with 'Money, Money — In a Rich Man's World'

THis last choral number follows one of the best presentations with 'Who Will Man the Lifeboat' which culminates with Britannia herself riding over the waves in her chariot.

The waves look so realistic and I admired the Cunarder, as use to sail from Southampton, crossing the ocean at the outset.  It was allowed to pass too quickly for my liking.

Janet Taylor leads the gospel singers with male members of the chorus braving the deep, clad in their oilskins.

Janic How and Rachel Fairbrother do a good job in front of the curtain with some dry wit in 'He didn't — He did' sequences, and there is a spot of do-it-yourself with Mack Flemington making a box to trap his confederate in humour, Paul Kelly, from which his escape is easy.

The sketch entitled 'The Book' is hardly the kind of happening to see at a bookshop but probably there is much more truth in the sketch 'No Gossip' with Bryony Paton and Lynn Clement finding much about nothing to discuss round the tea-table.

The Clones – Nigel Clarke, Kevin Belcher and Gary Belcher show how business can be done – not with a chip on one's shoulder but a parrot, a realistic cricket commentary takes place with Mack Flemington, Gary Belcher and Kevin Belcher in the commentator's seats and there is a monologue about the misuse of a birth control method which will only shoch the very prude, this is delivered by Gaynor Keefe.

There is an amusing skit on sheep, a party political broadcast by Wendy Roper and Jean Haines, a carefully sung duet by Liz Robertson and Ron Nelhams whose voices blend very well, and an up-to-date version of Noah and his Ark, with modern business difficulties applying, with excuses for late delivery!  This is competently presented by Nigel Clark.

I thought the best and most amusing turn of the evening is the Molecatcher trio of Ron Nelhams, Mack Flemington and Keith Graham who are excellent value.

One of the best ensembles is the presentation of the 'Code of the West' and I certainly enjoyed the Flanders and Swann selection, including 'The Slow Train.'  The directors are Keith Graham and Marilyn Clarke.