Mansfield Park and Ride
The script for the Eastern Angles Christmas show by recent Writers’ Guild award-winner Brendan Murray doesn’t miss a trick. Mansfield Park and Ride is full of Austen/East Anglia allusions and the first night audience and I loved every minute.
Vera Chok, Greg Wagland and Sally-Ann Burnett in Mansfield Park and Ride at Sir John Mills, Ipswich Photo: Mike Kwasniak
Entry to your seat is by pushing past dozens of Mr Knightly shirts hanging up to dry (geddit?). Mrs Bonnet (the bubbly and irrepressible Sally-Ann Burnett, who is also a manic Herr Beethoven) is determined to get her daughters married off as soon as possible. Sophie Steer is the eldest, Lizzie, and her attempts to retain her dignity and marry the man she’s had her eye (but nothing else) on for seven years is charmingly and amusingly handled.
Vera Chok plays Lucy Bonnet (and a Beggar and Fanny Fitz-Tightly), and very silly they all are. Penny Lamport is the maid Betsy, who pops up to collect horse poo and deliver letters, and offers to rub down Captain Knightly’s pecs with her pot towel. It’s a lovely louche portrayal.
Greg Wagland is an unctuous Reverend and an imposing Lady Kitty from whose muff peeks a malevolent ginger cat. William Belchambers bares his chest as the Captain and also plays a gun-toting sister. Both are very funny. Music by Richard Taylor is superb and this delightful ensemble piece is worth battling your way into from as far as the “Bangkok of the Broads” - Great Yarmouth.
Production information
Sir John Mills, Ipswich, December 2-January 9, then touring until January 23
- Author:
- Brendan Murray
- Director:
- Ivan Cutting
- Producer:
- Eastern Angles
- Cast includes:
- Sally-Ann Burnett, Sophie Steer, William Belchambers, Greg Wagland, Vera Chok, Penny Lamport
- Running time:
- 2hrs 20mins
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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