Guy Edwards
The Merry Wives of Windsor
White Horse Touring Opera
2009
As ever, White Horse Touring Opera's productions we very enjoyable, with the multiple venues each providing their own unique staging challenges. The season included an outdoor performance in a walled garden in the grounds of a beautiful manor house. With the accompanists hiding in the shrubbery and the resident peacocks joining in whenever the soprano sung, it was certainly a memorable event!
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The libretto was a new English translation by Graham Billing and the setting was relatively 'modern'. I played the lead male role of Fenton, portrayed as a bit of an ageing playboy complete with hairy chest and a medallion!
Oberon's cloak was built for someone about 4 times my size - but at least it was really warm, which, given some of the venues we performed in, was most welcome!
While poor old Slender and Dr Caius accidentally marry each other, Fenton sneaks off and weds his young sweetheart (played here by Jess Phillips).
Nicolai's "Merry Wives of Windsor" is based on Shakespeare's play of the same name and the denouement comes at midnight in Windsor Park when 'supernatural' events occur, culminating in an appearance by Oberon and Titania, the queen of the fairies.
I guess I must have liked dressing-up when I was a kid, but never quite got it out of my system! Titania here played by Jess Phillips.
The things I do for my art - including wearing a wig! At least the teeth are my own! Somebody asked me if the shirt was my own. Really!!!
A modern setting for Nicolai's operatic romp, "The Merry Wives of Windsor", staged in various rural locations in churches, village halls, & country gardens during 2009 by White Horse Touring Opera. In this setting, Fenton was 'medallion man' with an unhealthy interest in young Ann Page!
The chest hair is my own.
Bryony Cox and me seen here rehearsing in St Joseph's School, Devizes, for the White Horse Touring Opera production of Otto Nicolai's "Merry Wives of Windsor" in a new translation by Graham Billing.
I love touring opera - you never really know what the "stage" is going to be like - each venue is different and it helps keep you on your toes! Here, we were rehearsing for a performance in St Mary's Church, Marlborough. In this scene, Slender (Graham Billing) and Dr Caius (Tim O'Brien) are vying for Ann Page's (Bryony Cox) affections.