Dudok String Quartet -Stamford Arts Centre

 Saturday 4th March 2023

A varied programme, superbly performed and beautifully presented by a string quartet from Amsterdam.

The programme began with Mozart’s String Quartet in F major, K590. 

Then Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet in D major, Op 11. The 2nd movement is well-known and wonderful.

After the interval, they played Shostakovich’s String Quartet No 5 in B flat major.

My musical education and knowledge is pretty basic, but I loved this concert.

The Scottish Play with extra atmosphere

The wind has been strengthening all day, noticeable on the motorway drive, and more so as we picnic on the stately 'picnic slope' at  Tolethorpe Hall before the play.

We follow the sun, minor heliotropes, shifting our chairs, balancing our plates. We are not of those who dine on weighted down but flapping tablecloths.

"This evening's performance will begin in five minutes."

We take our seats and watch the branches dancing , and hear the leaves whooshing or soughing.  Better than a painted backcloth and a worthy background for the initial meeting of the weird sisters, and the general mood of the play.

Another thoroughly enjoyable production by the Stamford Shakespeare Company, with particularly strong performances in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Playboy of the Western World by JM Synge

I thought this was excellently performed by Stamford's Shoestring Theatre company.  I was quite able to suspend disbelief and be carried along by the story of Christy Mahon and his fearsome murderous deeds.  I particularly enjoyed the Widow Quin character, though all were well-played. The scenery of the shebeen, with a view of the Mayo coast beyond was perfect too.

Interesting too to read about the play's reception when it was first performed in 1907.  It seems political correctness is by no means a modern invention.  Nationalists claimed it wasn't political enough, and others saw the use of the word "shift" as a reference to Kitty O'Shea's adultery with nationalist leader Charles Parnell, and as an insult to the women of Ireland. And the premise of the play - that a village would idolise a man who claimed to have killed his father - was taken as a terrible insult to Irish peasant life.

All in all though - very entertaining and full of humour.  And I hadn't realised that "playboy" meant "trickster.

A Midsummer Night's Dream at Tolethorpe, Stamford.

This is a play I studied when I was eleven and it's one I remember pretty well. Sure, Leonie had reminded me of the "wild thyme" speech - she was learning it by heart with her kids, and involved me.

The play is ideal for an outdoor setting, and the Tolethorpe stage , with its back drop of trees, and its imaginative use of lighting and height was just the job.  Romance, comedy, fantasy, fairies, magic potions, a jealous Oberon and a careless Puck all add to the magic.  Very neatly set off by the workmen's acting of Pyramus and Thisbe.

Very entertaining.

Stamford Shakespeare Company in Twelfth Night

Entertaining, easy to follow, and the twins were alike enough for suspension of disbelief to work. Usual magical setting, and good weather.  Excellent Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek, but why would Viola ever fall in love with a drippy duke Orsino - the character, not the actor!

A Winter's Tale at Tolethorpe

As usual a very enjoyable performance by Stamford Theatre company in their outdoor theatre at Tolethorpe Hall..  Some good set pieces - sword dance and morris dancing,  Especially liked ... as Paulina, ...as Autolycus, and ... as the young shepherd.