A review of Carpe Jugulum by Circle Players October 2024

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Adapted by Stephen Briggs.
Directed by Anne Troman.
Review by PurpleFeather.

If I recall correctly, Mr. Feather and I saw Carpe Jugulum in around 2002 by an amateur dramatics group in Hythe, Southampton. This is all I can remember, and it is one that I was hoping would pop up within a decent driving distance of where we live in the Midlands (I would scour DW Monthly and now Better Than to see whether there are any productions that are within a do-able drive.

Last year, we had a double bill of Maskerade at Tutbury and Wyrd Sisters at Oswestry (one day Edinburgh or Abingdon may be possible). This year only Carpe Jugulum fitted our bill. Eyes on 2025)

Carpe Jugulum was staged by the Aldridge Youth Theatre, which was embarrassingly close and, unlike 2002, all four of us - my husband and the two boys - one teen, one tween - who we now have and who have been Pratchetted ever since they could sit up and be read to (the torn signed page of Where's My Cow attests to this) attended their final night.

Car park charge (or lack of it: that's what caused the confusion!) sorted, we were greeted by a cast member sporting a very good Uberwaldian accent entertaining the arrival of the guests with Halloween-themed puns and selling of programmes, from which we discovered that the theatre company had been going since 1934 and were celebrating their 90th anniversary.

I had booked seats on the end of a row as Mr. Feather has mobility issues, with the handy online option, but it turned out must have read the booking seating plan wrong and we were at the back. It turned out to be a good place to be as we were close to the door at the back for toilet access. Not the most comfortable seats, but no complaints once the show started.

The show began with a prologue introducing the characters, the witches, the Magpyrs, Verence, Magrat and the villagers, who doubled up later on as Jason and Shawn Ogg, Reverend Oats and the people (meat) of Escrow.

Ingeniously cast, Agnes/Perdita was acted by Amy Tregellis, her two minds being portrayed by one half of the costume (Agnes) being in traditional witch garb, whereas Perdita was dressed brightly. Even the wig was half black, half green, as if the costumier had bought into the brat summer vibe (Agnes being very demure, very mindful). The actress then went on to deliver the Agnes lines with the Agnes side of her costume to the audience, and flip round to show us Perdita while delivering her cutting asides, to great effect.

Also well cast with solid performances were Carol Grice as Nanny Ogg and Anne Harrison as Granny Weatherwax. As the Maskerade (Tutbury Players) Granny was well lodged in my head, it took a few minutes to get used to Granny.

Harrison shone with the cave scene, her will to fight against the dark, bargaining with the world, and I had to remind myself I was watching amateur theatre. One could hear a stamp drop.

Oats (Matt Round) was well cast against Granny, and became the pivot around which the narrative seemed to revolve. So when it came to the end, and Oats declared the axe as a religious symbol, it was both expected and apt.

The Magpyrs were also well cast, resplendent in their gothy dress, much appreciated by the younger Master Feather, wannabe actor, who belly laughed at the reverse expectation of the vampires in the Magpyrs' circle rebelling by staying up past noon and calling themselves Tim and Susan.

All four were excellent, arriving as they did at the border of Lancre with no more than two open umbrellas to act as coach wheels to great effect.

There was something in the performance of Taylor Johns as Vlad. Another actor able to convey his character skilfully and deftly, Johns had the look and mannerisms of the younger vampire down to a T: imperious, elitist, groomed to his role of head vampire in waiting, his interaction to Tregellis's Agnes/Perdita awkwardness in his company sparkled.

Another great performance was Julie Sadler as Lacrimosa, bossing around her brother and facing down Granny (momentarily). It was a pity the Magpyrs had to be defeated in the end - yes their glamour got to me too!

The whole play was enjoyed by all - younger Feather clocked early on that the vampires were going to be Weatherwaxed (neither teen nor tween have actually read a Discworld all the way through - yet - so didn't know that plot twist in advance) - even cynical older Feather didn't complain at the length, which was about an hour longer than any of the plays we had seen up to then.

A well-played production with thoughtful casting of actors empathetic to to PTerry's characters, Carpe Jugulum was directed masterfully, comprehensible to both those unfamiliar with Discworld as well as to die-hard fans like us who had come for the Full Pratchett.

Younger Feather tween scored an advertising poster so, as well as the programme, he managed to add to his Pratchett play collection and was excited enough to want to go on one of the "Play in a Day" event (30th and 31st October 2024):

• Tickets for the Workshop Events
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