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27-28 May 2011
A rehearsed reading – i.e. the cast carried scripts during the performance – of Royce Ryton’s play imagining the events leading up to the 1936 abdication crisis. 
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Review in Chelsfield Village Voice
The latest Chelsfield Players production on 27-28th May, was Crown Matrimonial by Royce Ryton, which portrayed the before and after events of the abdication of Edward VIII, as seen from within the Royal Family. There was a diversion from the usual format, with the audience sitting in groups around separate tables, with nibbles provided and a ‘light supper’ of sandwiches provided in the interval, the food being nicely presented on trays. The play was performed on stage, but with the cast reading the script. I thought that this might have been off putting, but it was performed so well that it did not detract from the enjoyment of watching the play. In all it was an interesting and well performed production. Special mention must go to Andrew Haggerty in the role of Bertie, who, although not bearing a likeness, gave a believable performance including his mannerisms and speech impediment. It was certainly an enlightening history lesson for many of us. A term that kept being mentioned was “morganatic marriage”. Although I could guess its meaning, I had not come across this before so looked it up when I got home. It is a marriage which confers no royal title on the spouse, and no right of accession to any children of the marriage. A view from the stalls |