A Chorus Of Disapproval

A cheeky Chairman’s Introduction by Mary Gardner (Enid) set the scene for a fine night’s entertainment at the Paget Rooms Penarth, and how nice it was to see Cliff Blaney all suited and booted at the front of house along with Brian Gardener, not strangers to the footlights themselves!
Not being content with directing this massive play alone, Perry Thomas portrayed the P.A.L.O.S director Dafydd with an energy and verve which moved the show on at a fair pace! Unusual coincidence that! Consider if you will the irony of a play about a director of a local theatre company, being portrayed, by a director of a local theatre company. If only Gilbert and Sullivan were around today!
The show is a difficult one to stage, and there were times when the actors entrances and exits crossed, impacting on the state-space created within this open stage production. There were also lighting plot issues in the revelation scene between Hannah and Guy in act 2 on the night I attended, which did hinder the satire and farcical nature that this scene requires.
Good performances from Howard Turnbull (Ted), Mimi Ferrier (Rebecca), Luisa Davey (Linda) and Robert Gairey (Guy), and I particularly liked Tiffany Barkers portrayal of Hannah, totally believable well done.
PODS are to be commended on their choice of shows lately, and are certainly testing and stretching the acting and singing skills of the company! Well done and “break a leg” with your panto Sleeping Beauty and the upcoming 90th year production The Witches Of Eastwick in 2014, what a show!

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