A Bunch of Amateurs

It was wonderful to see your company back doing what it does best delivering great production to your audiences. Also, to read in the programme the similarities between the buildings of the Stratford Players’ Theatre and the Redannick Theatre as your chairman said you as a group were obviously meant to perform this piece.

As this play was new to me, I took time after watching the performance to do a little research and found that the writers Nick Newman and Ian Hislop had ‘always written together…produced revues at school… went to university together and …ended up writing professionally together’ so had found a formula that worked.

The story centres around an A listed star Jefferson Steel arriving in the United Kingdom to be the leading light playing King Lear in the home of the Bard. Only to find that he has arrived in a little village in Suffolk called Stratford St John and find the rest of the cast are a bunch of amateurs. The Stratford Players are a varied mix of personalities who just like ‘us’ are following their hobby and attempting to save their theatre. Adding to these Jessica Jefferson’s daughter turns up at the hall.

We were greeted by an open stage set with various flats turned to face the back of the stage and some on their side. These I presume were those set-in acts two for the performance. Other evidence of items used when sets were created were scattered around the stage such as a ladder, work mate bench and electrical tools. An assortment of chairs was set in different positions and a wheeled storage basket with costumes was stage right by a wall. Set on the front stage to the right was the dining room of the bed and breakfast which contained a table and chairs and units holding items used by the guests. The bedroom scene was simply created by a half curtain and the smoke alarm worked well.  I did like the awards which had been created and added stage left, I’m glad their talents were recognised.  The props both large and small were well used. I have never seen a mobility chair used to transport someone from the theatre to the bed and breakfast and it was fascinating to see a nail gun and umbrella used as weapons. I did like the fact that real food and drink were consumed on stage it added reality to the scene.

The lighting was well controlled and added to the mood on stage. The sound on the whole was well managed but at times was a little loud and distorted especially when sound effects were used. Using a harpsichord for the songs, which were well delivered added an Elizabethan sound.

The costumes were well chosen and enhanced each character’s personality. The passage of time was shown by occasional changes of costumes but often just the addition of a blouse etc. The dress Mary wore to dance looked just right.  I did like the way the cast transitioned into Shakespearean costumes without too much fuss, they added gravitas when King Lear was performed.

Your actor gave a very convincing performance of the arrogant, demanding, gauche, temperamental Jefferson Steele. His had a stentorious voice and his American accent was spot on. He worked through a gamut of emotions from toddler like tantrums to acceptance and passion for the project as time moved on when he realised that amateurs put in good performances. I enjoyed his mannerisms and facial expressions. Great characterisation and stage presence.

The director of the Stratford Players Dorothy Nettle principal aim was to ensure funds to keep the group going. Her personality demonstrated her inner steel and quick wit. Your player gave a superb performance calm to a fault especially when coping with Jefferson’s tantrums. Skilfully controlling the besotted Nigel and was totally in charge when dealing with the other members of her team. She had some great one liners which she delivered with pizzazz and I think everyone in the audience reacted when Jefferson and her became a couple.   

Jefferson had a shock when his daughter who he had neglected turned up at the theatre. Your player depicting Jessica aim appeared to be was to make her father pay for his lack of involvement in her life. She created a strong character with a scathing way of reminding him of his failures. She developed some believable relationships with other actors and it was good to witness her change of feelings to her father.

Nigel Dewbury the pompous, stuck-up, self-centred solicitor was au fait with all the Shakespearean leads and thought he should play them and win Dorothy’s hand.   Your actor played him to a tee. The clash of egos between him and Jefferson was palpable, they were like two stags at rutting time. The fight with the sword and umbrella was great. It was good to see he used his work skills to ensure the newspaper had to pay up for the inflammatory headlines. Great stage presence.

The actor depicting the owner of the bed and breakfast Mary Plunkett absolutely adored Jefferson from when she found out he had agreed to play King Lear although throughout the play she confused him with other Hollywood stars. Her angry reaction when she misread the massage session between him and Lauren was convincing.  I enjoyed her Spanish dancing.

Denis Dobbins the village handyman and general factotum is star struck by the great star and acts as his right-hand man and number one fan.  He keeps people away from him, ensures his demands are met and communicates text to him through an ear piece. His different ideas of how to depict the blinding scene in King Lear were very funny. Well played.

Lauren Bell plays the formally attired, marketing executive wife of the group’s sponsor who is really obsessed about the arts with presence. She pops into rehearsals ostensively to see Jefferson and ends up using her physiotherapy skills to alleviate his aching back. This scene was hilarious with very strange sounds and actions.   

The three members of your team who played journalists did so with tenacity. They were after a good story, wanted their questions answers fully and used their phones to record the answers.

This was a small cast with no ensemble so there was no where to hide, every member had to be fully committed to the performance which your team were. David Ivall obviously had a vision which he transferred to the cast and they delivered in bucket loads. The play was full of great text, laughter, energy, constant twists and turns and together your complete team both in front and behind the scenes created a brilliantly entertaining piece of theatre. Many thanks for the invitation to attend.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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