A Bunch of Amateurs

Much Hadham Drama Group had put together a talented cast for their production of this very witty play by Nick Newman and Ian Hislop. The humour comes thick and fast and director Sue Wetherall’s expert handling of the script, together with every member of the cast being fully immersed in their role, ensured there was no let-up in the pace. This enabled the audience to be kept fully engaged throughout, not always easy to achieve.

An amdram group in Stratford, described as being somewhere in Suffolk, is anxious to save their Barn Theatre from developers by putting on a production of King Lear and engaging a Hollywood “name”. Enter Jefferson Steel.  Arriving in the UK to be greeted by a barrage of journalists and photographers, he soon discovers that although he has indeed been sent to play King Lear at Stratford, all is not as it seems. Unfamiliar with having to learn a script from beginning to end and even less familiar with the works of Shakespeare, he slowly begins to gain respect from the members of the group. 

A truly outstanding performance by Dan Abbott of this pompous American actor with a fading career.  Dan appeared to stop at nothing in the name of authenticity, throwing himself into the role and bringing out every nuance required of the script and probably more.  A great Mission Impossible sequence involving some clever lighting was a good example. Very well done.

The amdram group is headed up by chairman Dorothy. Lisa Turpcu was well cast in the role and gave a strong performance as the formidable, but also kindly director of the amdram production, taking no truck from her leading man. A terrific performance by Nishma Sharma as Lauren.  A member of the amdram group, she is also a physiotherapist and offers her services to Jefferson with hilarious results. When a picture of them in what is wrongly considered to be a compromising position, hits the headlines in a red top, the group manage to turn it to their advantage.

Landlady Mary, well played by Jill Oxborrow, tries every trick in the book to attract Jefferson’s attention, but to no avail.  She is also upset when her accommodation does not meet Jefferson’s high expectations.  This does though bring about some hilarious moments including when Denis, played by Andy Roberts, rides into the auditorium on a mobility scooter offering his take on the leading man’s request for a chauffeur, mini bar, fresh flowers and more.

Solicitor Nigel was well played by Ralph Camp. A pompous and also rather forlorn character, having been passed over for the role of King Lear, he carries a candle for Dorothy which is not reciprocated.  Lauren O’Neill is the last to enter the proceedings.  Playing the role of Jessica Steel, she is not in a good mood as her father, true to form, forgot to pick her up from the airport.  A well played supporting role.

In fact every member of the cast is to be congratulated on their performance. There were no weak links in this production and although a prompt is named in the programme, I was not aware of their services being required.

With an overload of scene changes, the set calls for clever thinking on the part of the director, and I think Sue Wetherall got it just right. The Barn Theatre which formed the background of the set was well constructed with sliding barn doors upstage right with a platform up stage left which was put to good use. Tables and chairs representing meetings and rehearsals were positioned as called for. 

Sound and lighting were good with sound effects coming in right on cue. Incidental music had been well chosen.  The cast were suitably attired in modern day dress for most of the play with excellent period costumes for their production of King Lear.

Congratulations to all involved in this excellent production.  It was good to be able to talk with director Sue and thank you Amanda for looking after us. We had a very enjoyable evening, as I’m sure did the rest of the audience.

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