A Chorus of Disapproval

Merely the sight of the name Alan Ayckbourn on the programme can usually be guaranteed to bring a smile to the lips even before the curtains open. Continuing the comedy theme, and following the Spring production of ‘Heatstroke’, this play has all the ingredients for a rib-tickling evening, and the Sherborne Players made the best of exploiting those ingredients, much to the amusement of a well-attended house. In common with many near-farcical creations, the success of the play is largely dependent upon the distinctive characterisations of the dramatis personae being utterly convincing and, in this respect, the Sherborne cast nailed it nicely. Starting with anchor-man Alan Morris as Dafydd, the Welsh director of a fictitious amateur operatic society rehearsing ‘The Beggars Opera’, his projection was masterly from the outset, and he continued to dominate until events around him undermined his confidence, at which point one almost felt sorry for him. Mild-mannered Guy, (Andrew Cross), as a young widower newly recruited to the society, is the almost unwitting cause of much trouble when he becomes romantically involved both with Dafydd’s wife, (Jane Pitts) and outrageous siren Fay, (Antonia Littlewood).  Sources of mirth in supporting roles included Stuart McCreadie as a hectoring Yorkshireman and his scheming, wife played by Jo Simpson. Hannah Hosking was a brashly aggressive stage manager while Ruth Rice and Roy Catchpole were rather timid society members much put upon by the director.

Director Patricia Harris kept the action moving along at good pace through plot and sub-plots while scenes and music from The Beggars Opera were juxtaposed in the play by way of continuity during scene changes. This was a very good effort by APS, well up to the high standard of amateur theatre achieved by the company over the years.

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