According to Rumour

On Saturday 12th April, I was delighted to be invited to the latest play from The Bispham Castaways, According to Rumour.

According to Rumour is a deliciously frantic modern farce by Robert Scott that revels in mayhem, misplaced memories and misplaced luggage — quite literally. The chaos begins when Carter wakes up in his flat after a raucous party to find a naked woman named Kitty Kat in his bedroom. To make matters worse, there's a mysterious bag of cash stashed in his fridge — and his thoroughly exasperated mother and sister are expected imminently. From there, the evening devolves into a whirlwind of mistaken identities, depositions and dodgy explanations, with friends, neighbours and unwanted visitors piling in to add to the confusion.

As characters duck, dive and double back, the farce escalates through clever wordplay, rapid entrances and exits, and perfectly timed misunderstandings. Beneath the laughter, the play gently mocks gossip and snap judgements — reminding us how a single missing fact can spin a situation wildly out of control.

This version of the play was directed by Ian Dodd, and I must commend him on just how many plates he had to keep spinning in the production! This comedy/mystery is a handful to direct, and it was clear that Dodd did so with a steady hand and a clear concept. He instinctively knew how to draw the comedy out of the script and ensure that his audience were laughing from start to finish. Dodd’s direction moved the action along at a cracking pace and ensured that there was never a dull moment — impressive for a debutant director.

According to Rumour is set in one room, and the small stage at Holy Family Church Hall was the perfect size to house the production. The set itself was naturalistic, not too flashy, and felt perfectly pitched for the play — definitely the living room of a young bachelor! It was sympathetically and smoothly lit by Alan Westhead, who enhanced the sense of this being a real place.

The play centres around protagonist Carter, as he navigates his way through an increasingly farcical situation. Martin Thompson played the role with heaps of nervous energy, and unravelled admirably as his life became more and more out of control. Thompson spoke with clarity and used vocal projection well, and his physicality in the role was perfectly pitched.

As Carter’s best friend, Roger, Conor James gave a good account of himself, though I would have liked to see him relax into the role a little more and enjoy the process more visibly. His distinctive voice lent Roger a commanding presence on the stage, and he played well against Thompson in the leading role.

Newcomer Amanda Knapp delivered an impressive debut performance with her portrayal of sneaky siren Kitty. Knapp had all the confidence and stage presence of a more experienced actor, which is very much to her credit. Fellow debutant Katy Randall played Carter’s sister Emma, and she too impressed in her first role. Randall used a range of excellent facial expressions, often highlighting moments of comedy effectively. In future roles, I would encourage her to continue working on her vocal projection to ensure that every line can be clearly heard in the auditorium.

Hayley Price was superbly cast as Ashley, the opportunistic postal worker who lurches from one hilarious disaster to the next. Price’s comic timing was impeccable, and she drew laugh after laugh from the assembled audience. Wonderful work and a real highlight of the evening.

Graham Wilcock was cast as Logan, police officer and new love interest of Carter’s sister Emma. His booming voice dominated the stage, and he had excellent physical presence. Wilcock was occasionally wobbly with lines but was able to get himself back on track with relative ease.

The final Castaways debutant in this production was Ellie Williamson, who had the challenging task of playing twins Maxine and Martine, assistants in the employ of Carter’s wealthy mother, Harriet. Williamson’s performance was energetic, her accents consistent and her physicality in the role impressive. A strong debut from a talented young actor.

Completing the cast was Susan Hope as the aforementioned Harriet — giving the production her usual exceptional level of commitment, focus and acting ability. Every time I see her perform, I’m impressed by her stage presence, vocal projection and comic timing. I particularly enjoyed her interpretation of this character and felt that she brought a lot to the production.

I knew nothing about this play before I arrived at the performance, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by what I saw. The play was funny, sharp, well-directed and hugely enjoyable. Thank you to all at The Bispham Castaways for the invitation and hospitality, and I wish you all the best with whatever project comes next. Well done all!

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.