A Bunch of Amateurs

A cabaret table setting in the hall makes a comfortable start with the brightly coloured programmes including our new branding and wording laid out.  The stage was uncomplicated using just black drape surrounds and showed us the rehearsal and performance area of the Stratford Theatre. Simply an angled gateleg table with chairs behind also an angled  pair of cupboards housing theatrical materials and used for serving drinks etc. The other side a couple of chairs and behind a coat stand. Lear’s throne made an appearance together with small breakfast table for the B & B scene, and of course the massage table for the very funny treatment scene which is totally misinterpreted by Mary and causes a huge publicity scandal possibly leading to an advantage! Cameo scenes outside worked well in the rain simply by wearing of a raincoat and holding an umbrella - effective. Nicely choreographed dual. The piece de resistance had to be Denise’s entrance through the front hall doors with Jefferson’s ‘star’ vehicle, her Gran’s maroon mobility scooter - just wonderful.

Despite Alan Arthur’s recent knee op, he was backstage with team support from Sue Neame & Ashley Neame. There was a lot of curtain pulling between scenes but with a little help from Vivaldi’s Four Season Suite these were managed pretty well. The numerous lighting cues were operated by Dave Austen & Ed Lawton together with Sarah Woods sound design. With day changes and a performance of Lear there too were many costume changes, which were appropriate and swift. Good attention to props used created a good finish – even steam on opening the coffee flask!

Opening in eloquent verse, Director Brenda Hansen performed as the Dorothy Nettle, Chair of the Players, also blessed with a natural gentle authority, she tries hard with her motley crew eventually knocking them into performance standard with a roaring success thus saving their beloved theatre. A lot of doubling up of characters made it even more amusing – who am I portraying now? Nigella Dewbury - always the lead and disgruntled not to be playing Lear was Gabrielle Brooks, who really enjoyed being the ‘obsessed with herself Nigella’ with so many wonderful moments. Wendy Thomas took the comedic role of Denise, keen and dependable turning her hand to odd jobs too and her moments were the mobility scooter entrance and the eye popping try outs. Great casting for Henrik Hansen who hails from Ohio therefore gave us an authentic American accent as the action man from Hollywood, past his sell by date, demanding ‘star’ attention, not knowing his Stratford in Suffolk from his Stratford upon Avon and even demanding a Shakespeare script rewrite. With Denise as his entourage and providing all his extras he mellowed and came up trumps.  A great performance and together with Kirsa Lommerud Olsen, as wife of the Brewery Sponsor, Lauren turned the back injury massage scene into an hilarious romp. Laura Laws, a regular in pantomime, made her debut in this fun production as Jefferson’s teenage daughter Jessica Steel – with many more appearances in the future as I’m sure she’ll now be hooked.  She arrives, disillusioned by her father – her mother is off on honeymoon with yet another husband and she feels unloved. She makes it up with her father and performs as one of Lear’s daughters who, on her death scene, goes into an allergic reaction collapse and harmony is restored. Lastly, we have avid knitter Mary Plunkett, who is easily flustered, star struck, never gets the films correct that she enjoyed Jefferson in, and expert in getting the wrong end of the stick which ends as a huge publicity success! She runs the B & B and her heart is definitely in the right place. A lovely character portrayed by Vanessa Perrin.

Understanding the complex ‘Lear’ plot requires some study but this clever hilarious script turns a failing amateur theatrical company into the position of keeping its theatre and to quote the Fool’s words

‘He that has but a little tiny wit

And hey-ho, the wind and the rain

Must make content with his fortunes fit

 For the rain it raineth every day’

Loosely – Anyone with a bit of common sense should learn to be content with whatever life throws, because often ‘sh...t happens.’ A huge team effort from not only the Players, but the backstage and helpers for the numerous jobs to bring together a most entertaining evening of laughter.

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