A Comedy Double Bill

The first play “The Real Inspector Hound” written byTom Stoppard is really a very entertaining but not complicated plot.   Written, one suspects, drawing very much on Tom Stoppard’s own experiences as a theatre critic.   As such, the two theatre critics in the play, Moon played by Paul Reed and Birdboot played by Alan Green, gradually get more and more into the action than first suspected.

Paul Reed played Moon as a rather haughty exacting theatre critic who rather ridiculed Birdboot played by Alan Green, who’s beady eye seized up every attractive leading lady in, probably, every production he reviewed, with every intention of getting more than friendly.

Both came across very well and almost word perfect in very long speeches.

The character of all characters Mrs Drudge, played so well by Ros Pettett, was the “help”in the house.   Very much in the style of Julie Walters as Mrs Overall in “Acorn Antiques”with dialogue being repeated time and time again in a very exacting manner and almost becoming the narrator of the actions as they progressed.

Simon played by Malachy Luckie looked every inch the part in his white suit.  Excellent facial expressions and good style and manner in his role.

Cynthia played by Angie Smith was forever regretting the demise of her husband Albert but was always up for a dalliance or two with any men around and looked elegant and stylised as also did Lucy Watts playing Felicity.

Adrian Bolton as Magnus??? Or was he?? In a very modern wheelchair and resplendent with a very luxurious moustache he was an  imposing figure with strong delivery of lines. This part suited Adrian very well and more was to come as the action unfolded.

Nigel Rowe as Inspector Hound stamped about a great deal and got most of his assumptions incorrect  as required by his character.

The Radio Announcer and A.N.Other; one seen, the other only heard, both added to the production.   For Gordon as A.N.Other it was probably one of the easiest roles he has played.   Not a word was spoken, but he was on stage throughout the performance lying prostrate on the floor presumably DEAD!

The furniture and set was super, as the Manifest sets always are, and costume, lighting etc of a very high standard.

The play is far too complicated to explain but nothing/nobody turned out to be who we originally thought?

Well done on a well directed production by Kate Sheffield, followed by

The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish written by David Tristram and Directed by Glyn Hill.

This play involved just two people in the cast.  John Roberts playing Henry Smith and his wife Alice played by Jan Watkins.

I had never seen this production before so had no idea what to expect with such a weird title.The set was changed totally for this play which was hilarious and quite risque !!

John as Henry was a very frustrated husband, with it seemed a very annoying wife.  John’s dialogue as always was very strong loud and fast capturing the many trials it seemed he had to suffer with his fussy and demanding wife.

Henry Smith however did have a vision and many fantasies which he tried very hard to keep to himself, but here and there the aspirations he hoped would materialize but seemed not to. In his fantasies he became an actor,business tycoon,secret agent, Casanova the list goes on.

Jan as Alice Smith was good foil suffering this very irritating husband and his exacting manner and standards, but secretly longing for a life filled with more than the housekeeping and boring dreary routine, and allowed herself to fantasize of how exciting life could be.In her exotic daydreams she has Michel a French waiter who concocts cocktails for her, but somehow their relationship is not progressing.

Both kept up a really intense battle with a huge amount of dialogue and movement to master and to their credit the speed of it all added to the plot.

Orca the Goldfish was the recipient of both Henry and Alice’s dreams and fantasies, but in the end he died possibly due to his boring life in a boring home.

This is where the twist could happen?  Orca’s death could bring the couple together perhaps?

Again well directed by Glyn Hill.A very good evening’s entertainment and as usual well supported with a full house.

It was good to meet up again with Patience and Viv and other folk and to see the hard work achieved by the company and friends on the building work which has taken place recently.

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