An evening of One Act Plays

CONFUSIONS BY ALAN AYCKBOURN

MOTHER FIGURE    This interesting play revolves around the mother of three young children, whose husband is rarely home, struggling to cope alone and who has completely withdrawn from life outside her home. A neighbours visit to check if she is alright brings their relationship out in the open as they become the “ children” of the mother figure.

DRINKING COMPANIONS   The play features the husband of the mother in the previous play, who is a travelling salesman and staying in a hotel overnight. A heavy drinker he meets a younger single girl, also staying away from home through her job. He attempts to inveigle her into coming up to his bedroom, his attempts thwarted by her companion who joins them.

THE RATS BY AGATHA CHRISTIE.     Set in the early 1960’s The Rats is a dark drama about a pair of illicit lovers who find they have both been invited to an empty flat individually on a pretext. They are visited by a mutual friend who has set them up for a murder and locks them in the flat, from which there is no escape, to await the arrival of the police. Hence the title  - they are rats caught in a trap.

Alan Birdsworth’s direction of Mother Figure was animated and the script  portrayed well, with appropriate use of light and shade. Props were effectively used to convey the anxiety of the mother.

In Drinking Companions he took the play in a totally different direction from the original intention. The central character Harry, became a comedic figure whom the audience warmed to, as opposed to the original sleazy and persuasive role which was intended.  A different take, but on this occasion it worked well and was enjoyed by the audience.  

Margaret Wales directed and performed in The Rats, which because of the space on a small stage was difficult. Perhaps the balcony area could have been better marked with a free standing rail as it was significant? An all female cast I felt would have worked better if the character of Davey had remained as a female, without pretending to use a pipe, it would have been an interesting twist to the relationship of the “ love rats” . The tension built slowly throughout the play and the storyline moved along appropriately.

With very limited space and facilities the Hart Players Crew did well to manage the elements of lighting, set and sound effectively.

The props were in keeping with each play and well used, with appropriate costumes throughout. Particularly the flamboyant costume of Alex in The Rats.

THE PRODUCTION:

MOTHER FIGURE    There were three very commendable performances here, by Clare Froud as the Mother, Jackie Kennedy as Rosemary and Jason Kewley as Rosemary’s irritated husband Terry. The neaunces in the script came over well, the play was animated and very enjoyable.

DRINKING COMPANIANS  A good performance here too by John Ford as Harry Compton, who portrayed his character sympathetically and was well supported by his fellow cast members.

THE RATS  Some strong performances and effective use of the limited facilities available here. Perhaps there could have been a little more tension towards the end, after the discovery of the body, more panic perhaps, but again this play was enjoyable and well acted by the four lady cast members.

Hart Players are to be congratulated on their achievement here, an evening of classic plays greeted enthusiastically by their audience. I wish them luck with their performances at the Edinburgh Festival this year.

 

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