The Thwarting

Farmer Girl auditioned and received a part in a local theatre production of The Thwarting of Baron Bollingrew by Robert Bolt. Performances began Thanksgiving weekend and concluded after three weekends of 4 performances each. This is a basic synopsis: Sir Oblong Fitzoblong, a highly unlikely knight-errant is sent by his duke to fight the black dragon with red eyes which lives on the Bolligrew Island- ruled over by the bold, bad Baron Bolligrew and his henchmen Squire Blackheart. After making friends with Magpie and besting the magician Moloch in a display of magic, Oblong confronts the dragon and Baron Bolligrew in a final showdown. This play by Robert Bolt, who wrote “A Man For All Seasons”, "The Tiger and the Horse", and the screenplays for the prize-winning films "Lawrence of Arabia" and “Dr. Zhivago” has taken its place among the great children’s classics, whose hallmark it seems is that adults are no less enthusiastic then the children. Bear with me as I have included many pictures for those who couldn't be there :) Oh, Farmer Girl played the part of a Man at Arms with her good friend and fellow thespian, Alfi. See if you can find her!
 

The knights bringing in their most recent dragon tail acquisition. They have now killed all of the dragons in their kingdom. What to do now?

Oblong is sent as a Knight Errant to the Bolligrew Islands.

He has three things to accomplish: One is to fix the magistrate. He begins by participating in the court.

His second job is to fix the church and he enlists the aid of the local peasantry.

Squire Blackheart
"throws down the gauntlet" and calls Oblong names, trying to get him to duel with him.

Oblong meets Magpie who he had saved from the Baron's gun that morning.

Magpie and Bobbleknob resting after being up all night decorating eggs for market so he could pay his court fine.

Oblong protecting the eggs from Squire Blackheart.

The court session where Oblong gains a seat on the bench as well as the Lord Mayor taking away Bolligrew's power and Bobbleknob is absolved of all charges.

Conspiring to trick Oblong using a wizard and his potions.

Meeting Moloch, the wizard.

Preparing the trick to make Oblong poisonous to the dragon.

Moloch meeting Oblong and giving him the apple that would make him poisonous.

Looking innocent during above conversation.

Admiring Oblong's cloak and appealing to his pride over it.

The feared dragon in his cave.

Moloch returning the cloak, now magical in that when worn, it would make Oblong do whatever he was told including going into the dragon's cave.

The knights at home playing musical chairs.

The cast on stage with the Lord Mayor.

Mazeppa from Oxford, Moloch's familiar.

It all turns out in the end, the dragon is killed by both Oblong and Bolligrew. Oblong becomes the Baron of Bolligrew Islands and the Baron leaves to go hunting. It was a lot of fun and a great experience for Farmer Girl. Now she is counting the days until Missoula's Children Theatre comes in January for Treasure Island. Here are some close-ups of the Men at Arms in costume. They were so funny doing things together, finishing each other's sentences and marching around.

Love the hat and fake mustache!

For those who knew me as a child.....

Switching hats with Mazeppa.

I loved it when they had to cover one another's ears!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures although they were a bit much in number. Thanks for reading.
Ellie~