MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

By William Shakespeare

Performed at Mottisfont Abbey on 20th to 29th July, 1989

Cast in order of appearance

For The Maskers

Much Ado About Nothing is usually dated about 1598, and was published in 1600. The main story, that of Hero and Claudia, has been traced to sources some quarter of a century earlier. But the enduring appeal to audiences over the centuries is the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick which is entirely Shakespeare’s invention, as are the comic constable Dogberry and his watchmen.

The play explores a variety of personal relationships and attitudes, set against the influences of class and social expectation. Whilst Claudio and Hero appear to accept reasonably readily the expectations of society and their families in the conduct of their relationships, Beatrice comes through by contrast as one of the earliest feminists - unwilling to conform and behave ‘as expected’. The parallel with the birth of womens’ lib at the turn of the century was one of the reasons I chose to set our production in early Edwardian times.

Although Beatrice and Benedick are frequently portrayed as young sparring lovers, their intelligence and wit, coupled with their confirmed batchelordom, must make them in reality mature adults, which is how we present them.

Another particularly current concept in the play is the comparison between today’s ‘Neighbourhood Watch Schemes’ and Shakespeare’s Watch. Ordinary citizens had a duty to serve a night’s watch on a rota basis: but the more intelligent paid others to do their turn for them, producing a ‘Dad’s Army’ in which Shakespeare readily saw the comic possibilities.

It is widely held that Shakespeare intended the title to be a pun between ‘nothing’ and ‘noting’. Certainly much of the plays’ fun lies in the way in which the audience can ‘note’ the actions, plots and feelings of all the characters, and decide in advance what the outcome might be.

Michael Patterson

The Company

BRIAN STANSBRIDGE - Brian is a Personnel and Training Managerfor Southampton City Corporation.He hasplayed many timesat Mottisfont, including the lead in ‘Tom Jones’; ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’; ‘Ring Round the Moon’ and ‘The Rover’. He is an accomplished folk singer and married to Angela - wardrobe mistress for ‘Much Ado’.1

BELINDA DREW -joined ‘The Maskers’ to play Jill in ‘Equus’ at the Nuffield ten years ago. She has since had many major roles and was Musical Directorfor’Lock UpYour Daughters’. This is her third Mottisfont appearance. She is professionally employed with Hampshire Theatre in Education based in Southampton

 JOHN SMITH - one-time teacher and youth leader now lecturing in the University School of Education, John has lengthy connections with amateur theatre groups and is making his debut with ‘The Maskers’. He is perhaps better known as a Director, especially with Southampton University Players.

DAVID PIKE - A teacher in various Hampshire schools during the last 30 years, David is now an Educational Representative for Hampshire. He started acting in the ‘40’s with the Romsey Abbey Drama Group and RAODS. Joining ‘The Maskers’ in 1970 to play Napoleon in ‘War & Peace’, he has since had many leading roles, including four previous Mottisfont productions.

CHRIS BENNETT - Age 25, Chris joined ‘The Maskers Youth Theatre’ after graduating from the Vienna School of Toothpick Carving in 1987, and has now moved on to join the grown ups. He mistakenly heard that this production was to be a play written by Joe Orton after his death.

JIM SMITH - a found member of ‘The Maskers’, played Benedick in our original production and has had over 20 leading roles since. A lecturer at the University, he has published several books on theatre, including a study of melodrama; editions of Wycherley, Vanbrugh & Boucicault, and shortly, Four Georgian Comedies.

JENNI WATSON - a part-time secretary who has been with ‘The Maskers’ more years than she cares to remember! She has had many roles including recently, Beatrice Lacy In ‘Rebecca’ and the Countess in ‘Flare Path’; perhaps her most demanding role was as Vladimir in ‘Waiting for Godot’.

HARRY TUFFILL - an executive with IBM, currently working on secondment to Wessex Regional Health Authority managing their computer developments, Harry played Sir Thomas More In our first Mottisfont appearance, ‘A Man for All Seasons’. Married with two sons, his wife is director of Winchester Samaritans.

JOHN SOUTER - since coming to the area from Tyneside in 1969 John has acted with most of the major local theatre groups. Over the years he has tackled most of Shakespeare’s clowns with Forum Theatre at Netley Abbey - including Dogberry. John retired early from a career in Engineering to pursue his interest in sculpture.

ALBERT MINNS - by profession a barrister, ‘Albie’ Minns is now the full time manager of the Wessex Childrens Cancer Unit Appeal. He joined ‘The Maskers’ in 1986 for the Mottisfont production of ‘Cyrano’, and won the Best Actor award at the 1987 All England Theatre Festival for Harry in Ayckbourne’s ‘Drinking Companion’.

GEORGIA BUCE - a 17 year old member of ‘Maskers Youth Theatre’, Georgia is studying ‘A’ level English, German and Art at Richard Taunton College after attending Cantell School. She hopes to go on to do Drama at University or Drama College.She has also played with Forum Theatre and Southampton University Players.

DAVID BARTLETT - David is a Disablement Resettlement Officer who has long ago lost count of the number of productions he has been involved in both in the UK and Singapore and Australia. An original Masker, David played Antonio in the first ‘Much Ado’, and has also directed a number of shows.

JEAN DURMAN - Jean is an accounts administrator at aWinchester hospital and joined ‘The Maskers’ six years ago playing Stella in ‘Streetcar Named Desire’. This is her fifth Mottisfont appearance, but she has also played outdoor theatre in the tropical heat of Mombasa, Kenya at a Muslim school.

ALAN WATSON - An ex-policeman, ex-soldier, ex-land agent and now a sales representative, husband and father, Alan has found satisfaction in a least two of these roles. Joined ‘The Maskers’ in 1975 as an unforeseen result of marrying Jenni.

BRUCE ATKINSON - Bruce is a Project Engineer with IBM at Hursley, and began acting in New Zealand, and subsequently with the Esso Drama & Music Club on his return to the UK 7 years ago. He joined ‘The Maskers’ last year after coming to Mottisfont to see ‘The Rover’.

GRAHAM BUCHANAN - a founder member of ‘The Maskers’who has acted the complete ‘ABC’ of drama and directed many shows, including various touring productions of Shakespeare at Winchester Theatre Royal, the Old Salisbury Playhouse and the Nuffield. His productions of Gilbert & Sullivan have surprised many. Graham is a Project Engineer with the Pirelli Cable Company.

JOHN CARRINGTON - a founder member of the company, John played Claudio in the first production. Since then he has had many major roles, and has directed several successful shows such as ‘Lysistrata’ and ‘Oh What a Lovely War’. John is a school teacher.

MICHAEL PATTERSON - senior partner of Penyards, the Estate Agents, which he founded some 8 years ago, Michael joined ‘The Maskers’ as Musical Director for ‘A Funny Thing’,. directed our first Mottisfont production ‘A Man for All Seasons’ and wrote and played an original score for the only show ever repeated by the company, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’.