A Bunch of Amateurs

When you perform a comedy penned by Nick Newman and Ian Hislop you must surely have all the ingredients to produce a winner. But when you find yourself stepping into the shoes of such famous names as Burt Reynolds, Samantha Bond and Imelda Staunton, to pick out just a few of the illustrious cast of the 2009 film of the same name, you certainly have something to live up to. For the talented cast from Chelmsford Theatre Workshop, this proved to be no problem.   

The play takes an enlightened look at amateur theatre through the eyes of a professional, a one-time Hollywood action man by the name of Jefferson Steel whose star has all but waned. He arrives in England under the impression that he is booked to play the title role in King Lear at Stratford-upon-Avon, only to find he has been tricked by his agent into performing for the Stratford Players, an amateur theatre group in the village of Stratford St John in Suffolk. Trying to remain unfazed by his selfish demands, bad manners and mental baggage, including several broken marriages and an estranged daughter, the members of Stratford Players try their best to accommodate him and as the play progresses we begin to see a softening in his attitude towards his fellow cast members.

The role of Jefferson Steel is a demanding one with the character required on stage for most of the time and Mark Sutton is to be congratulated on his very creditable performance.

Dorothy Nettle is definitely the linchpin of the play and Sylvia Lanz gave a terrific performance as the Director whose initial excitement at engaging a Hollywood actor soon turns to despair. Determined not to be dictated to by this spoilt character, full of his own self-importance, she has no qualms about letting him know who is boss, reprimanding him for not learning his lines and firmly declining his amorous advances.  Very well played.

A good performance also from Christine Davidson as the star struck Mary Plunket, owner of the local B&B, trying unsuccessfully to impress the newcomer with her, invariably wrong, recollections of his past roles.

Martin Robinson really captured the plight of poor Nigel Newbury who failed to understand why he was not offered the role of King Lear. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for this character who feels he has been denied the opportunity to show his full potential.

Tom Tull was obviously really enjoying playing Denis Dobbins, a role he made his own and what a good job he made of it too. Very well done. I wish him every success in his next challenge, One Man Two Guvnors, and with his drama studies.  

There were other good performances from Charlotte Norburn as Steel’s estranged daughter Jessica and Jacquie Newman as Lauren Bell, wife of the owner of the local brewery, the society’s sponsor.

The action was fast moving and scene changes, although lots of them, were swiftly carried out.  The well thought out set was that of a rehearsal room with a beamed interior which doubled as a theatre for the Stratford Players.  Good use was made of the area downstage left to depict the B&B and Lauren’s massage couch.  Lighting and sound were good and the incidental music appropriate.

This was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment and a pleasure to make a return visit to CTW.

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