Review: "Of Love and Riches"

Post date: Nov 15, 2010 11:8:10 PM

By Nimelia Stoutfoot.          It was just before dawn, with early lights still shining friendly through Hobbit hole windows in Michel Delving, when a very special event took place in front of the Far Downs gate: The Grand Order Acting Troupe had called - and a veritable crowd of hobbits, and even some elves and men, had come to answer. The Acting Troupe consists of Miss Lina Willowwood, Miss Patula Thimbleberry, and Master Simbo Rumblebelly, and their third play, entitled "Of Love and Riches", was to be premiered.The buzz died down when Miss Lina started reciting a few verses of poetry, setting the stage for the play. She then exited, leaving the audience in silent anticipation.

When she returned, now wearing a beautiful golden dress, she was Rose, the female lead of the play. A lovely solo dancing scene was interrupted when her true love Serdric, played by Master Simbo himself, entered the stage. The players then treated the audience to the most endearing display of affection between the two lovers, culminating in Serdric's decision to ask for his lover's hand in marriage.

But when Rose's mother entered the stage, her stern demeanor - portrayed wonderfully by Miss Patula - made it instantly clear that it was not meant to be, for her daughter was to be wed to a hobbit of higher status.The heartbreaking end of the first act saw Rose in tears, and Serdric stomping off the stage, vowing to change her mother's mind.Before the second act, some more verses of poetry recited by Miss Lina informed the audience of Serdric's plan: To take posession of a treasure a Troll was said to have hoarded up north.At the start of the second act, we saw Serdric at the troll's cave. His plan to gather the treasure was rudely interrupted when the troll itself appeared on the scene! Yes, dear reader, the troll actually entered the stage - and it was the lovely Miss Patula again, in a masterfully crafted disguise.

We shall refrain from betraying the further development of the story - and its truly spectacular culmination point at the end of the second act - to readers who may not have had the fortune to witness this premiere, for there is a chance that they might some day see a repeat performance, which they definitely should.

Instead, we would like to commend all of the performers on their truly exceptional acting. Miss Lina made our hearts bleed for poor Rose, while Miss Patula managed to deliver the part of the fearsome troll in a most spectacular fashion. Master Simbo, not to be outdone, contributed a superior acting effort of his own during the second act: For a good few minutes, he lay completely still on the floor - and his belly did not rumble even once!

At this point, we would like to remind our readers that this is already the third play of the Grand Order Acting Troupe. Rumor has it there is a chance that their first play might be performed at Master Hilldi's birthday party this Tuesday.

After the play, the larger part of the audience joined the performers heading over to the Bird and Baby inn, to calm their minds with music and refreshments after having seen the stirring story of two desperate lovers and a troll's treasure that is the play "Of Love and Riches".

The players receiving the well-deserved cheers from the audience.

Nimelia added the following personal note:

Now, since I am a Bounder and not an artist at heart, I am not of deep sensibility, nor have I the way with words to express myself properly. Nevertheless, I wish to add this for the performers of the play in particular, but also for all in the audience, who contributed their appreciation (and for Miss Yola as well, whose efforts in publishing the Bramblebury Gazette made this written report possible in the first place):

To me, a good part of what makes the Shire is the many comforts it offers - the green hills, the quiet waters, the lazy afternoons spent sitting on the porch with a pipe of fine leaf. But the better part even is the commendable effort that you good hobbits make to bring us events such as this one. Together, they form the very spirit of the Shire, and give it the soothing voice that I keep hearing in my mind while lost in dark and far away places on my Bounder errants - the voice that keeps telling me to look ahead and press on, for further down my path, there will be more lazy afternoons in those green hills, more pipes of fine leaf, more fridays at the Green Dragon, and more plays about love and riches and truthfulness.

Ed. The very artfull sketches were also made by Miss Nimelia Stoutfoot