A Master of the Marionettes

How well do you know your friends? This is a question you could take home after watching multi-Bafta award winning Guy Hibbetts thought provoking play. Having written the play in the 1980s, Guy adapted it for television and it was screened as part of the BBC’s Play on One series in 1989. This revised version was then given to his friend, Bosham actor and businessman, Mark Chapman, who filed it in his attic for some 20 years. When he offered it to Funtington Players with a view to producing it on stage for the first time, they were delighted. It is a very dark and challenging play for both the actors and the audience.

What made this play so difficult was that all accept one cast member had to play more than one character. Added to that was that they did not leave the stage very often during the performance. The leading character, Teddy, played by Jono Oswin, was the only person on stage to play just one. He went from a person respected and liked to one who just wasn’t. He never dropped out of character and was also the person the story was based around.

He was well supported by Allan Brown, (Danny/Tim), Lynette Woodward, (Christine/Maggie/Ann), Andy Horner, (Billy Michael), Alan Copsey, (Harry/Mortimer), Richard Sanderson, (Frank/Jack), John Hiller, (Ray/Tennyson) and Andy Neve, (Pat Oswald). All these changed the characters and costume very simply but at no time were you in doubt of which one they were playing. Well done!

The direction by Leafy Scott, well assisted by Mark Chapman, was excellent. They went for fresh and clear storytelling at its best. There was a high degree of professionalism in the way this show was produced and the audience were in the thrall of the story throughout. Thank you for the invitation. It was very pleasant and enjoyable evening.

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