THE CANTERURY TALES

Corn Exchange, Dorchester

CHAUCER’S classic Medieval stories are given a theatrical twist by the trio of musicians, Sophie Matthews, Chris Green and Tom Fermor who comprise the Blast from the Past company as they bring a mixture of wit and bawdy comedy to six of the famous tales which were written in the 14th Century.

The audience is treated to the musical skills of the artists as they play the shawm –a forerunner of the oboe – the cittern – an old style mandolin – and the bagpipes, which they perform while recounting stories of love, lust and laughter.

To anyone who has studied Chaucer, it comes as no surprise that bedroom jokes abound and dastardly deeds are carried out by scheming rogues who usually get their comeuppance. An extra bonus by the trio is when they teach the audience a song in Medieval English complete with actions which takes the show to panto levels of participation and fun.

With modest costume changes and few props, the six stories are faithfully recounted with hand puppets ingeniously adding to the cast of three with their characters ranging from the posh to the pauper.

This being their final performance of this production, it was understandable that there was a certain air of finality and weariness in the show but it nevertheless proved to be fine value for money with its insight into the art of storytelling in the past, proving once again that not a lot has changed over the past 700 years.

MARION COX