This year’s Shakespeare play ‘All’s well that ends well’ at Lamb House, which was performed September 2, 3 and 4, and which delighted the audiences, is the last time a play will be presented in the gardens. The tenants have decided to move out at the end of their tenancy and changes are planned by the owners, the National Trust.
The stage and seating in the garden were arranged in a round for the audience, the trees decorated with lanterns and little lights so it was very atmospheric. While people found their seats, brought out the food and wine, the cast sat around a banquet table, the scene taking place in the middle of the circle. Once everyone settled, prosecco poured, humus and strawberries retrieved from the icebox, the show began. While I preferred this setting, it did have a slight problem. We could not hear everything even though the actors worked very hard turning, round frequently to address each section of the audience.
There were chuckles when in one scene the sidekick of the countess’s son climbs seductively onto the rickety dinner table to lament to Helena (one of the principal women in the play) about virginity, to then nearly fall off when he tried to get down. It was as usual a polished performance by the professional Lamb Players and without an interval.
This was good because night and a chill air descended quite quickly. Also, at some point in the evening we had a strong farm whiff of the recent ‘bad smell’ that permeated the town for a number of days. But people were not deterred and stayed a little longer after the end, discussing the play and finishing their drinks as the mini lights and lanterns lit up the ghostly trees.
The Lamb Players have announced “This is the Players’ last season at Lamb House as the Rowan-Plowden Rogers decade at the house has come to an end. The last hurrah will be a very special Christmas Evening in December.” The Players have a spectacular new venue in the planning for 2018 and will announce more details in due course. www.thelambplayers.com
Photos: Heidi Foster