A 4 Box Set

WELLINGTON THEATRE COMPANY - A 4 BOX SET

Date Wednesday 7th September 2022 

Society Wellington Theatre Company 

Venue Wellington Arts Centre 

Type of production 4 plays of coarse acting 

Director Graham Hart 

Author Julie Kibby- Councillor 

This production was performed in the lovely quaint Wellington Arts Centrewhich seats around 70 people. It was lovely to see members of the junior section enjoying the evening’s entertainment. In these plays sets collapse, props fall to pieces and actors are in the wrong place, forgetting their lines. Actors all carrying on as though the audience haven’t noticed. This madeforagreat evening of laughter. 

Our first play was Streuth by Michael Green. From the start the audiencewasin stitches, laughing at each calamity as it unfolded. We had curtains openingand closing at the wrong time, scenery collapsing and James ,the butler leaning against it to hold it up. Great overacting by Mrs D’Arcy. Strange accent for theDetective Inspector which added to the comedy. Moving the corpse andbodyparts dropping off both stunned and amused the audience.The telephoneringing at the wrong time and the Inspector answering it, completely ignoringthe fact that it was still ringing when he was trying to speak. Hubert playedhispart well, reading his script from a cigarette case. Eliza the maid withaposhmono-tonal voice. The vicar/Rupert squeezing through the fireplace. 

The second play was Present Slaughter by Jane Dewey. The pianist arrivinglateon his bicycle. Gasping for a drink, he empties the flowers from the vase and guzzled down the flower water. He then proceeded to play the piano with enthusiasm but with with a few duff notes. This continued throughout the play. Well done to him as this is not an easy feat.We had Oliver, suave and debonair who was still madly in love with the sophisticated Lavinia. Oliver dropping glasses and cutting his hand, has blood pouring out. Lavinia is oblivious as he wraps his hand in a napkin.Oliver continues to be amorous towards Laviniabutshe stays resistant. Classic line of “Don’t come near me” when Oliver hasn’t even moved was funny.The telephone appeared on stage fromthe fireplace, causing much hilarity,having been pushed on by a mop.Oliver orders wineusing the telephone and the waiter arrives before he has finished his phonecall. Mimi the maid having screamed and vomited at the sight of blood, is taken away by the waiter. Oliver collapses and a paramedic appears onstage. We end with Binky and Bunny making an appearance in their tennis whites. 

Play 3 was A Colliers Tuesday Tea by Michael Green. The set was based around a large kitchen table. We have Ida Hepplethwaite struggling to light the tilly lamp with matches and coat hooks falling off the wall. Dan Hepplethwaite sits down to tea with daughter Victoria, neighbour Margery, son Albert and grandad in his wheelchair. Lionel(Victoria’s young man) joins them.   A thunderstorm is heard and commotion ensues as one leg falls off thetable. Cast members prop it up and conversation around the table continues whilst another leg falls off. Then another until all the legs have fallen off and the tableis balanced on cast members knees. Lovely spot where someone says pass the jam and Albert rolls the jam jar across the table, raising his end of the table to help it roll. The cast stand up, tip the table vertically and walk out the door. The audience is expecting all the crockery to fall but it has all been stucktothetable top. At the end grandad stands up from his wheelchair and walks off stage, much to the audience’s amusement. 

Our final play was A Fish in Her Kettle by Michael Green. We had Jock McAllister who was new to acting and did not know his lines, so carried his script everywhere with him. Victor is planning a romantic liaison with his lover Lucille but his wife Eugenie is unexpectedly at home. He calls the doctor to get a potion to make her sleep. The doctor arrives, drops his glasses and moves the chaise longue nearer to the door. The butler opens the door and goes flying over the chaise,onto the floor. Chaos ensues with a soda syphon, resulting inVictor having wet trousers. The doctor and Victor swap trousers but inevitably, the doctor’s trousers fall down round his ankles, much to the audience’s amusement. With various cast members in and out of the cupboard, a mixup with hats, and water thrown over Lucille. Chaos ensued throughout culminating in everyone leaving the stage and Victor locked in the cupboard. 

These 4 plays were very entertaining and congratulations must go tothecast, who were playing multiple roles. The scenery worked well and was effectiveineach play. An enjoyable evening of entertainment. Thank you for inviting me.

 

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