On Saturday, August 18, the Lamb Players presented the first of three weekend performances of Shakespeare’s “As you like it” in the grounds of Fairlight Hall. The company was set up in 2009 by Francesca Rowen Plowden, with the involvement of many other professional artists and directors. They delighted audiences in the beautiful garden of Lamb House in Rye where she and the family lived as tenants until 2017. When the family moved out the Lamb Players negotiated with Fairlight Hall. The ethos of the company is to perform brilliantly acted and directed productions of Shakespeare in magnificent locations and also to make them accessible and enjoyable.
The Lamb Players certainly managed to do this in the afternoon performance. The stage was set up in the round in a dip of the lawns in the Hall grounds, surrounded by woodlands, meadow and had wonderful views. The audience was encouraged to bring a picnic prior to the play, which quite a few people took advantage of.
It is difficult to pick out for special praise any individual member of the company because all of the acting was excellent as was their diction, easy to understand with excellent projection so everyone was included in the performance. It also increased the understanding of, and laughs about, the many plays on words Shakespeare mixed into his works.
However, Rosalind (Carrie Quinian), Orlando (Raphael Bushay) and Duke Senior doubling up as the drunk vicar (Jack Tarlton) were special. There was also lovely and gentle music (both singing and guitar) by Bobby Delaney.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .