CHAGFORD saw the premiere of a new musical recently, 'Feyly Manor'.

It was the first musical written by Anna Shields, a young graduate in Drama, Theatre and TV Studies who lives in Chagford.

Using her strong local contacts she gathered a compact group of talented young people, some of them still primary school age, for an intense, wet summer holiday's project.

The production, staged over two nights, was completely realised within the space of a week.

Whiddon Parishes Rector Anthony Geering reviewed the play:

'Feyly Manor' — as the title hints — is darkly magical and just the sort of plot relished by children because it conjures up classic tales such as 'The Railway Children', 'The Secret Garden', 'Peter Pan' and the like.

It appealed equally to adults who enjoy a pacey period story with a villain, comic interludes, young heroes and a happy ending.

Anna's music caught the mood accurately, ranging from whispering mysteriousness to emphatically catchy numbers.

The set was a triumph of minimalist suggestion and allowed the careful costuming to rouse the audience's imagination.

The story begins with a London terminus scene involving the company and introducing the three new orphans Kitty, Roger and Elsie.

They arrive at Feyly Manor, home of their aunt and guardian; Lady Alice and almost at once fall foul of the creepy and domineering housekeeper, Mrs Macreavy.

They are befriended by a cheerful maid, Harriet, who defies Mrs Macreavy to her cost; it transpires that Mrs Macreavy nurses a grudge for unrequited love of Lady Alice's late fiancé. Her allies are some of the nursery toys; the Tin Soldier, Rag Doll and Ballerina — whom she has enthralled.

The 'good toys' are Mr and Mrs Noah, the Jack-in-the-box and Sailor skittles, who help to save the day and release Harriet when she is captured.

Lady Alice is imprisoned by Mrs Macreavy whose ultimate aim is to take over Feyly Manor. The arrival of the children has forced her hand.

A game of Snakes and Ladders has to be played by the children to win the release of their aunt. After some tense action they are successful.

The production immediately drew the audience's sympathy and involvement and the story progressed with all the predictable melodrama and high humour.

Individual characters were well conceived and the cast were obviously completely enthralled about the whole musical.

Several characters demanded serious effort, notably Lady Alice who needed to be both a little naïve and gently likeable and believable.

Mrs Macreavy and Butler Dawson were played with obvious relish, the Noahs were great fun and Harriet adopted as the real heroine.

The three children carried the plot's continuity with charm and confidence.

The success of the production owed a lot to the supplementary characters. Each cast member clearly enjoyed being involved and played their parts with conviction and polish.

Altogether it was a remarkable achievement for a largely untried company and left two big audiences, adults and children alike, in good humour and warmly appreciative.

The writer-producer had demonstrably won over her young cast and crew and welded them into a team of obvious talent and real potential.

More please, Spanner Youth Theatre!