One of the reasons I enjoy going to the Players Theatre is the varied selection of plays the company puts on each season.
I’ll admit I had never heard of their latest production ‘Playhouse Creatures’ – so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Directed by Joanna McDonald, ‘Playhouse Creatures’ is written by April De Angelis and tells the story of five women who worked in London theatres during the 1660s.
It was a new and exciting time for theatre, as women were now legally allowed to perform on stage.
The cast was fantastic and thoroughly entertaining.
Becky Porter played the young ‘Nell Gwyn’ – a barmaid with ambition to succeed at any cost.
Claire Henson played ‘Elizabeth Farley’, and Bethany Froud played ‘Rebecca Marshall’.
Carol Cullen Smith gave a great performance as ‘Mary Betterton’, an actress sacked by her own husband because audiences want to see younger flesh on stage.
However, the evening and the performance belonged to Michaela Warrilow, who played ‘Doll Common’, a stage hand and chorus figure.
Michaela’s performance was simply wonderful and had me hooked into the story from the opening lines.
The play raises many questions about feminism, human rights and how women are represented in society today.
However, for me ‘Playhouse Creatures’ is first and foremost an entertaining play full of magical moments and great acting.
The characters are strong and this is reflected in the language used on stage.
It was a production which felt alive and full.
‘Playhouse Creatures’ is showing at The Players Theatre in Nantwich until February 13.
More details available at www.nantwichplayers.com
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