Bedroom Farce

Despite problems with the use of the group’s normal venue and after looking for alternatives the excellent Smarden Charter Hall certainly filled the bill. Modern, very good facilities with a car park too, comfortable seating and a perfect wide stage to accommodate three bedroom insets designed and built to high spec by stalwart Peter Huxley greatly assisted by Freya Mardon. Shaped flats surrounded Ernest and Delia’s raised room, centrally placed double bed, picture above, bedside units each side with operative bedside lights, strategic window, bathroom off, plus wardrobe stage right, exit door stage left. Forward was set a dressing table. Subtle colours used. Angled stage right was Mel and Kate’s unfinished room, double bed, walls with paint testing colours, step ladder leaning and under the surprise flat pack box. Stage left another angled double bed, side table, switches, again picture above, giving room for well executed falling in and out of bed activities! The fourth couple worked their performances between the three bedrooms.

Another complex scripted play written in the early ‘70’s based on four couples, three bedrooms, much physical action spanning over just one very long night. A script fast paced, with confusion, misunderstanding, human frailties but exceedingly funny with updated technology references and a character change from the original Malcolm to Mel. Older couple Ernest and Delia are preparing to dine at their favourite restaurant to celebrate their wedding anniversary, which doesn’t really go quite to plan. Their son Trevor and very troubled wife Susannah appear separately inflicting their marital problems and functionality on firstly Mel and Kate who are hosting a housewarming party bringing total chaos to the proceedings. Trevor’s past girlfriend Jan also attends having left her husband Nick in a somewhat immobile state in his bed - sometimes on the floor - with a bad back. Misunderstandings, bed sharing, snatched kisses, pilchards on toast, flat pack disasters, piles of coats,  all at pace made this a fine piece of physical comedy.

Much experienced Gillian Davis portrayed Delia beautifully – so very upright, rather superior, and knowledgeable, with miming actions both applying and removing her make up with no mirror brilliant, great articulation and her lovely line ‘You can tell a great deal from people’s bedrooms’ amongst other gems.  Supporting her was multi-tasking Peter Huxley as Ernest her husband – pretty patient sort of character obviously a dab hand in the kitchen to prepare such a bedtime treat as pilchards on toast to eat in bed after having a disappointing celebratory meal at their favourite restaurant! Poor thing is banned to the bathroom and to the damp spare bedroom caused by an overflowing guttering.  Certainly Paula McMullan did a good job as a newcomer to acting as an old girlfriend  and rather unsympathetic wife Jan with some great physical bed action and timing. A good relationship with Henrik Hansen as pain ridden Nick. Very funny action timed well, spending a fair deal of time flat on the floor!

Mel and Kate had a few doubts about their relationship along the way.  Returning to the stage was Hayley Savage as Kate with active movement, questioning looks opposite her Gabby Brooks as Mel used more to directing but enjoying the hilarity of farce – not sure about her carpentry skills! Our final couple -  newcomer to the group Mike Clarke as Trevor sympathetically characterised, he did love Susannah even though he kissed Jan. Karen Wright with long-acting experience created a wonderful neurotic, reciting, self-doubting wife. Wonderful hand gestures and I enjoyed her sustained northern accent.

Lighting and sound cues are critical in this production and Freya Mardon with her creative side together with Chrissie Smith as a trained theatre technician worked their magic crucial to the quick changes from cameo to cameo.

Henrik’s wife Brenda headed wardrobe which was present time – all very in keeping. Marion Woolley was responsible for the numerous props used as well as knowing everyone’s lines having been rehearsal prompt.

New Chair and Director Patrick Harrison was at the helm of this production – his personal favourite, working on Ayckbourn’s study of human relationships but looking at the physical opportunities too.  Together with SM Fiona Edwards, Julie Hine, to those F of H and unseen, a most enjoyable ‘Bedroom Farce,’

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