This always seemed to me a strange choice for a Discworld play as the novel follows on almost directly from the previous (Witches Abroad) and the play, as written, allows little help for those not famimliar with the work of Mr Pratchett.
The story is that the three witches (Magrat Garlick, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax) have just returned to Lancre after a long time away, and find things have been happening. A coven of young girls has started trying their hands at magical spells and mysterious crop circles have started appearing. Margat has just announced she will be marrying the king and Nanny and Granny have to find out what’s at the bottom of all these mystical happenings. So we have a proud young girl who wants to be queen but still wants to be a witch, a proud old witch who refuses to admit defeat, even when confronted with mankind’s worst enemies, and a Faerie queen who is too proud to admit that their time has passed and they cannot just run roughshod over mankind as they once did.
The players are all fairly young and have been forced to compress a two hour play into 70 minutes (and only ran over by ten, so not too bad). They talk just that little too quickly and are forced to rush about from one scene to the next, but manage to keep in character and still get the essence of the story across to the audience. The older witches are much too slim and attractive to be the age they are supposed to be but do have very good voices for their parts. Magrat really came into her own once she revealed the iron corset. The librarian and Casanunda were good and will need help walking properly after.
The Faerie Queen was beautiful and imperious as she should be and Oberon, for his cameo, well primitive and manly. The other parts were well played and used their parts for good comic effect. So if you’re a fan of the Discworld and want to see a slightly speeded up rendition of one of his plays, book yourself a ticket. Just note it is only playing on even dates.
Visit the Fringe website for bookings details.