Are You Being Served?

Before the audience reached the auditorium it was entertained by elegantly displayed clothing and hats as if it were entering an old-time department store.  A lovely touch that this theatre group often employs.  It must add to the hectic workload in the few days before opening night but it also adds greatly to the wider enjoyment of a trip to the theatre.

 The moment the tabs were opened the audience was taken on another nostalgic trip back to the days of much loved and very silly Saturday Night telly.  Well done to the set builders and the set designer, it looked exactly how we remembered the Grace Brothers department store.  The steps up to the lift, complete with red carpet and the old style counters.   As the various actors made their entrances they too took us back in time.  The mannerisms, body language and mode of speech were very close to those of the television characters.  Their clothing and hairstyles were as we remembered, right down to the fabulous blue wig of Mrs Slocombe.   This is how it should be.  To copy a television programme it is usually necessary to keep as close to the original as possible.  It is a  quite different style from the "you have the script now bring that script to life" production.   "Are You Being Served" has already been seen by millions of people and the characters within it need to be instantly recognizable.  Interestingly the actor playing Miss Brahms had never seen an episode of the programme but her style was spot on.  

The Spanish holiday to Costa Plonka saw the Grace Brothers' staff in more relaxed surroundings, although the hierarchy was still in force.  There were many opportunities for misunderstandings, innuendos, flirting and general carryings-on.  The pace was mannered which up to a point fitted the style of play but it would have benefitted from a little more drive.  Diction was excellent allowing the audience to fully enjoy the wonderful silly humour.  

Lighting was good as was the sound.  It was interesting to see that a number of hanging mics were used.  With a play, especially in a small theatre, are mics strictly necessary? Fortunately they were reasonably unobtrusive.  They had been positioned sufficiently high so that they neither cast awkward shadows or distracted the audience.  The scene changes to the hotel lobby and then the tented sleeping area worked very smoothly with minimal interruption to the proceedings.

This was a well-rehearsed play.  Much thought had been applied and the characterisation by all the actors was very good, with some they would have been barely discernable from the original.  The prompt had a very quiet evening, not once was his intervention required.  The house was nearly full and it was clear that the audience had enjoyed a very funny evening at the theatre.  It is hoped that when TDS stage one of their more serious plays, and they have a reputation for presenting these skillfully, the audience will again return in great numbers.

Congratulations to all members of TDS for a wonderful evening of fun.

 

 

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