A Chorus of Disapproval

Comedy is best served when taken from life, as demonstrated in this Alan Ayckbourn play based on the backstage trials and tribulations of an amateur dramatic society rehearsing “The Beggars Opera,” incorporating some of John Gay’s music. As with any play, it takes quality actors to bring the script alive as originally intended by the author. S.A.D.S have a wealth of talent to call upon and the director must be congratulated for choosing such an excellent group for this production with casting nigh on as perfect as could be wished for. All jumped from ensemble to individual roles with a huge amount of competency and then some!

First call onstage to Guy Jones, who, to all intent and purpose, is a naïve, lonely widower. He joins the Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society, quickly creating a new dynamic within the group and through a sequence of occurrences, rapidly finds himself promoted from back row obscured, to leading man, with a few business issues and a dalliance or two on the way. Along with the rest of P.A.L.O.S, all are drilled by the iron hand and blunt tongue of Director Dafydd Ap Llewellyn, these two actors being the lynchpin to the play.

Dafydd’s lyrical Welsh accent was a pleasure to hear, retaining its natural lilt throughout, while Guy’s demeanour and facial expression strongly emphasised his hapless character traits, leaving the audience in no doubt of his all-round character.  All principal and supporting roles showed exceptional understanding of the humour and occasional poignancy required. Each character was clearly defined from the start. How many times have the audience been heard to say “where did that come from?” Not in this play! The director paid close attention to small details and was cleverly able to lead her cast to expose every one of them in the script, alerting the audience early to the slow burning but very evident growing attraction between Hannah (Dafydd’ s wife) and Guy.

Costumes were chosen well, particularly for ‘The Beggars Opera,’ while lighting was imaginative with angles particularly suiting the side placed sitting rooms. Pace, timing and flow was faultless with seamless scene changes who could ask for more!

This was an excellent, extremely entertaining piece of work resulting in only “a chorus of approval” to be heard. What a shame the matinee audience was so undeservedly small!

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