"...a stellar cast of acting royalty" Xan Phillips

The Company of By Royal Appointment - photo Nobby Clark 3

Even when she was in the countryside Queen Elizabeth II looked immaculate. For state occasions nothing was out of place, or so we thought. Were there subtle tweaks, style and motifs that said more than the Queen ever could in person?

What was going on behind the scenes? Who were the people responsible for giving our longest reigning monarch her everlasting “look”, but allowing various signals to be conveyed in the designs and accessories.

To help us solve this puzzle we can thank Daisy Goodwin’s ‘By Royal Appointment’ and a stellar cast of acting royalty to help us decode the hidden language.

Playing Queen Elizabeth to a tee is the incredibly respected Anne Reid. Anne turned 90 in May and in an interview with Voice FM her co-star and equally respected James Wilby said: 

Anne Reid as Queen Elizabeth II - photo Nobby Clark

“ She's absolutely brilliant. You know what an extraordinary actress, she is, I mean, incredible achievement. It's a huge part. She's just to learn the lines of that age, never mind walking around and getting to the theatre and climbing stairs and all the rest of it. She's 90 years old. It's incredible.”

When it comes to her craft Wilby has this to say about Reid’s ability to look relaxed: “ Well, it's very easy to be on stage and, and have a tautness and a tension can come into you. Those actors that are able just to be on stage and appear to be in your living room, on stage, is quite rare and quite extraordinary to watch.”

James Wilby, with his reputation made through Merchant Ivory and Poldark James Wilby is The Designer and the character is based around Hardy Amis, who was very artistic in his early days, but during World War II saw a lot of action 

“ He's gay in that he had to hide that all his life. His commanding officer during the war thought he was, described him as the most dangerous man in the unit, even if he was gay. And, actually said that to his face. And, you know, he was dropped behind enemy lines in Belgium, all kinds of things.”

James Wilby The Designer - photo Nobby Clark

By Royal Appointment is a fascinating play. We knew we were going to get something good because of the quality of the cast, and even though on paper it's not my cup of tea, it became fascinating as went through 15 dresses the Queen wore at key moments during her reign,.

Not only designs and what went into them, but the politics and media scrutiny the Queen felt she was under.

Anne Reed was wonderful, and fully sat in the role, just as the Queen did. She knew who she was, her role and how to play, and Anne Reid conveyed this beautifully. She's on stage for almost the whole of the two hours and really nails the queen's attitude, you wouldn’t guess she is 90 and delivers a magical performance. 

Caroline Quentin, who's her dresser, and probably the person who knows her the best as she dresses the Queen in the morning, picks her accessories, provides makeup, buys her underwear, puts her to bed at night, puts in the curlers and also has a fine way with words.

Caroline Quentin The Dresser - photo Nobby Clark

Not necessarily stern, not necessarily tough, but certainly gets irritated by the designer and the milliner. 

The designer is played by James Wilby, the milliner James Dreyfus and together they are brilliant, great entertainment, and begin in a techy relationship, which slow develops into mutual respect, with a dash of loathing. All four work really well together.

James Dreyfus The Milliner - photo Nobby Clark

I can imagine, for the Queen, the dresses and the attention was the highlight of the week, this was her own personal gang.

In fact it was summed up by this excellent line “I just stand still and you color me in.” 

I’m sure you can imagine how the play ends, and by that time you felt that you'd lost like a member of the family and that's how brilliantly acted it was

You really had great affection for the Queen, and the very last image they put up was probably her last photograph, standing against the fireplace in Balmoral.

It was quite an emotional moment. A lot of people were standing up and applauding the cast, and especially Anne Reed, but also Caroline Quentin, James Dreyfus James Wilby, and curator played by Gráinne Dromgoole should also get a good mention because she connects each scene, made it very entertaining, and got the biggest laugh of the evening.

Its the first play by Daisy Goodwin and I’m looking forward to seeing many more. If you're into dress making, acting, or if you a fan or not a fan of the Queen, I think you will easily get something from this show.

Book your seat here www.mayflower.org.uk