Review of "TIMEGATE" for Weston Mercury
by Paul Twynam  January, 2000

Wrington Drama Club's presentation of  "Timegate" by local writer Tony Watts was an ambitious production for an amateur group. Under Fred Cowgill's direction, the portrayal of eight key points in Britain's history was skilfully projected into the body of the hall, with the "theatre in the round" format linked by the reassuring presence on stage of Peter Langley as Mike, the landlord of The Golden Lino (sic), and his alter ego, the Time
Landlord. 

The dawn of the new Millennium and a conveniently located wormhole in the space time continuum gave the cast - and the audience - the chance to decide whether history could indeed live up to its billing. This was Carry
on up the Tardis with humour from Rowan and Martin meets the Goons with some Monty Python thrown in. 

The sets were imaginative yet spare, which meant that the pace was never lost, while some of John Graham's props almost managed to steal several of the scenes. The costumes, including many made by Julie Marshall yet some which had graced the BBC's Henry the Eighth, were colourful and convincing.

The lighting was well done, although a little eccentric due to technical problems on the last night.

Wrington's Rector, Noel Hector, was a revelation as 'ello 'ello's William ze Conqueror and a truly despicable Judge Jeffrey. Mark Bullen portrayed a wonderfully camp Francis Bacon and a suitably servile servant to the notorious hanging judge, while Phil Neve was a shady and sinister Mafia Pope. Apparently the sight gag with the Pope's Tower of Pisa standing to attention for Kate Foot's voluptuous Ann Boleyn went even better at one
performance when the prop misfired - projecting upwards before falling to the floor! 

Richard Bourton gave a powerful perfomance as King Henry, as did Peter Jones as the ill-fated Harold, and John Dunstone as both Shakespeare and Monmouth's undercover supporter. 

There were plenty of moans, groans and belly laughs in this production, some fine musical links and polished, energetic chorus work from the Junior Drama Workshop. Some of the younger cast members took solo parts and Sarah Green's Lady Macbeth - played straight - was particularly impressive. 

Pat Milne's Mother Superior leading her noviciates in a musical crocodile was a popular running gag covering scene and costume changes: it culminated in a raunchy rendition of Hot Stuff at the finale - one of many high
points. It must be said that the men had the better parts (especially given King Henry's codpiece) although Miche Campbell looked very much in control of her Catherine of Aragon.

This was a novel production for a small local group which was both technically challenging and accomplished.

Review of "TIME GATE" for Village Journal and for Chew Valley Gazette
by Rosemary Hodges

Sometimes fate plays straight into the hands of entrepreneurs. How could writer Tony Watts and director Fred Cowgill possibly have foretold  that on the very same day their show opened the Government lifted the ban on homosexuals serving in Britain's armed forces? Here was this richly comic scene, the death of Nelson enlivened by Phil Neve's outrageously camp Cap'n Hardy!

As in the entire show, wonderful costumes - it is believed that Richard Bourton wore the costume seen on Keith Michell when playing Henry the Eighth. The talent poured into this show was quality stuff. Julie's "Babes"
- nearly fifty of them - putting everything into their scenes. Didn't you just love the all-girl Robin Hood bit?

We know how good Noel Hector is at mimicing voices but he gave a great performance as William  the Norman (shades of "'Allo,'Allo") and Judge Jeffreys. What a humorous twist of history was concocted here - Wrington's cunning plan to outwit the law. Jon Graham's cleverly constructed models - a lute, harpsichord and that little Tower of Pisa - brought by the Pope as a gift for Henry the Eighth were a part of the physical effort which involved lighting and special effects. 

Peter Langley's key role as pub landlord and Time Landlord involved him in so many rapid changes of costume, he must have lost weight - but as impressive as always. I was intrigued by the linking of the scenes by robed Mendicants - lots of costume work again.

Time Gate will certainly be remembered as part of the Millennium Celebrations.

Time Gate - report of the NODA representative

Now there are not too many joys in having to leave a nice warm house on a January night but one of them is always to go to Wrington and see what innovative dramatic fare they have served up this time! 

The brainchild of local journalist Tony Watts, this original work was really rather special. It involved a cast of adults and juniors in what can only be described as a dash through history and putting a very individual stamp on some very famous people and events. 

King Harold, Robin Hood, Henry VIII Shakespeare, Judge Jefferies, Nelson and Eric Fothergill (!) all turned out to be lesser men than they thought they were! Of course when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969 he was met by the Wrington W.I. golf club! All hugely enjoyable fun!

The Memorial Hall was transformed into a traverse acting area with the stage a pub bar and a place for the wonderful band to play their unique heavy rock accompaniment to all the historical goings on and the interludes between. 

These scene changes were also brought to life by the most wonderful band of nuns and an Elizabethan lady who bopped in line to Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff". 
Wonderful! Wrington's Junior Workshop are a very talented bunch of youngsters and far from acting as fillers in this production, took a lot of the acting honours. 

Their contribution to the Shakespeare and Robin Hood scenes was outstanding. 

Costumes were absolutely first class; Julia Marshall is to be congratulated for her work. So too were the props. The leaning tower of Pisa was never more expressive! The cast had to play many roles and to their credit succeeded in most. The Time Land Lord's role was a tour-de-force of line learning and his narration was superb. I felt the second half didn't have the drive of the first, mainly due to slow dialogue pick-up.

Although lighting was erratic in the second half it added to the fun of the evening. The sound effects were very good indeed. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble. I know how difficult it was to rehearse and stage this 
show and it says a lot for the club they succeeded so successfully. 

Congratulations and thanks for inviting me.