Autumn Acts

Autumn Acts

Ghosts of Bedlam By Arthur Aldrich. Directed by Stephanie Kinson

A Warning Fire By Diana McKay. Directed by Claire Martin

Blue Suede Blues By Diana Raffle. Directed by Joyce Pomeroy

 

Competing with Saturday night TV viewing can prove to be a bit of a challenge at the moment, but TIPPS managed to entice a healthy audience for the last performance of this medley of spooky and comedic One Act Plays, perfect for the week leading up to Halloween, and it was encouraging to hear that attendance had been busier on previous evenings, in what are still difficult times for drama societies.

First on the bill was Ghosts of Bedlam, where we were introduced to film maker Royston. He is found visiting a derelict former mental hospital having been commissioned to make a documentary contrasting old-style mental health care with the improvement that the new-style care-in-the-community has brought. While at the hospital he meets Janet, a former nurse now the caretaker, and Milly a former patient who keeps returning despite having spent all her time when a resident trying to escape.

During his visit Royston also experiences a disturbing flashback into his own life, and this together with hearing the stories of the two ladies causes him to have a complete change of plan, and he decides to withdraw from making the film, much to the consternation of Rachel the very officious civil servant driving the project.

This was thought-provoking piece, and the roles of Royston and Janet were both sensitively played.  The part of the unwashed bag lady was believably performed by one of the younger members of the group, the “smell” almost permeating into the audience, and the local bureaucrat was suitably overbearing - the moment when she tore the flea-ridden blanket from Milly and clutched it to her chest was priceless!

TIPPS Juniors presented A Warning Fire a cleverly written tale by one of the members, with a twist. When a mother and daughter lose their way on the moors, they take shelter in a 300-year-old pub only to find that it has a chequered history of catching fire and was perhaps not such a safe haven after all!

All five youngsters did well in their roles. Mum was convincingly and caringly portrayed, and her daughter Jane was particularly animated and inquisitive. The dour and sceptical “old boy” supping at his pint had obviously been there before judging from his comments, and he slipped spookily from view to re-emerge as the harassed pub landlord well supported by an efficient waitress. The ghostly woman from the past was chillingly played, leaving no doubt as to their fate in store as she brought the tinderbox to light the fire!

The final play Blue Suede Blues was of a much lighter theme, and simply great fun! Two rather jaded Care Home residents decide to plot some excitement to brighten up their hum-drum lives. The two leads were simply both outstanding in the roles of Grace and Lily, and you could sympathise with every ache and pain as they tottered around the set!

Their cunning plan involved the “kidnap” of care assistant Pansy by locking themselves in the sitting-room and asking for a ransom of a bottle of gin, a packet of fags and a budgie in exchange for her safe return.

They managed to get Pansy on side after convincing her that the incident might at long last persuade her very reluctant fiancée into marriage. The idea was that they would pretend to have been overcome by some outside felons who, on receipt of the ransom would have escaped through the sitting-room window and be long gone.

With the alarm raised the brisque and efficient Care Home manager wasted no time in summoning Frank the endearing neighbourhood policeman and Derek the reluctant fiancée to the scene. It soon transpired that the reason that Derek couldn’t marry Pansy was because he was actually still married to someone else, so he was quickly despatched with his tail between his legs!

The “siege” lasted for several hours, and the bubbly Pansy was soon bowled over by Frank’s considerate and caring nature as they lay chatting on the floor either side of the locked door – a relationship certainly in the making!

The piece de resistance at the end had the ladies reverting to the stereo confused state expected of the elderly residents as they were assured that the perpetrators would soon be caught as all the excitement had been captured on CCTV!

 

The simple set had been well planned for all three plays and was efficiently adapted and dressed accordingly for each piece. The hospital beds looked authentic and transformed easily into the pub bedroom with an attractive small fireplace, the furnishings and décor for the Care Home were spot on, and all was well complemented by suitable and capably executed lighting and sound, making for a most entertaining and enjoyable evening all round – well done!

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