REVIEW: Moonfleet at the Watermill theatre, Newbury

The Watermill continues to prove it is a very special venue , intimate and friendly but consistently producing very good quality productions and with a strong active Senior Youth Group of years 7 to 11 supported by The Sackler Trust, Principal Supporter of The Watermill's core Education and Outreach work. The latest show is a very fine adaption by Danielle Pearson of the J Meade Falkner novel Moonfleet which uses a cast of 28 to tell the story of smugglers on the Dorset coast. 

Written as a story telling by the Mohunes, the inhabitants of the village, who appear to draw lots from a bag to cast the main parts at the start of show. But it is an ensemble piece with lines spread throughout the large cast who are well drilled to sharply deliver them in a rhythmic poetic fashion that keeps the audience engaged and interested. 

REVIEW: Moonfleet at Salisbury Playhouse

Gareth Machin, one of the executive directors of the Salisbury Playhouse, has boldly written the book and lyrics and directed a new musical version of the classic novel of Moonfleet, the book written in 1898 by J Meade Faulkner. Set on the Dorset coast in the 18th century it is a dramatic tale of pirates, smugglers and a young boy John Trenchard who narrates the original book. New musicals present a real challenge to successfully develop but in this short run in Salisbury, Machin has demonstrated the potential of this story to create an engaging, dark, musical with a light operatic feel with music written by Russell Hepplewhite.

The atmospheric setting designed by Tom Rogers very effectively creates the multiple locations in which the story unfolds and slickly moves from the Why not Inn, to the crypt, to the local beaches, to Carisbrooke Castle and to Holland. He cleverly uses stage traps, and high levels balconies to simply provide an ever changing setting. The whole effect is enhanced by Tim Lutkin's wonderful lighting design which evokes candle light and moon light and tightly defines the various acting spaces.Together they create a strong period feel and perfect backdrop to the action. It also allows Ashley Mercer as Blackbeard the pirate, to quietly drift into vision through the darkness and shadows as a mystical brooding observer and guide to the drama with a powerful deep voice.