Winchester actress steps up after leading lady struck down

Lucy Francis, the star of award-winning Winchester Musicals and Opera Society's production of Kiss Me, Kate, lost her voice halfway through the run of the show.

The play, which follows a group of actors hilariously attempting to stage Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, centres around the tumultuous relationship between its director, Fred Graham, and his ex-wife and current star, Lili Vanessi.

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Amarantha Fennel-Wells stepped up to the challenge (Image: Winchester Musicals and Opera Society) Ironically, just like Fred in the play, the society had to deal with Lucy, who was playing Lili, dropping out mid-performance due to illness.

As it became clear that Lucy could not continue the Friday night show, the cast and crew swiftly adapted the script to ensure the audience still enjoyed a top-notch theatrical experience.

However, with two more shows scheduled for Saturday and Lucy now bedridden, the team had to take more drastic measures.

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The play follows a group of actors hilariously attempting to stage Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (Image: Peter Sillick) Stepping up to the challenge was Amarantha Fennel-Wells.

A long-time member of the society who had been playing the role of a dancer, Amarantha had only two hours to familiarise herself with the music.

By the time the audience arrived, she had transformed into the glamorous Lili Vanessi, confidently watching the audience from her stage-side box 'dressing room'.

Despite the director announcing the last-minute change to the audience, Amarantha’s performance was so seamless that some spectators believed the disruption was part of the show.

Winchester Musicals and Opera Society will next be performing in the spring, with four concerts featuring popular numbers from Broadway and Beyond.