Between Mouthfuls & Brewed Awakening

‘Between Mouthfuls’ is part of Ayckbourn’s Confusion series. A contemporary, present day, short, light-hearted play set in a hotel restaurant. Simple staging with a stone wall backdrop and black curtaining either side as service entries. Either side of the stage was a dining table being set by a rather heavy-handed waitress in and out with cutlery glasses etc. A welcome lectern faces offstage, and the first dinner guest arrives – Mr Donald Pearce,  businessman, chooses a table, seems somewhat pompous and annoyed awaiting the arrival of his wife Emma who is late. Dialogue is strained. He has been away on business in Rome for 3 weeks and she is suspicious of his activities. Polly and Martin enter the restaurant, and she really does not want to see the other couple, as Pearce is Martin’s boss! Polly has also just returned from a 3 week holiday -  Martin being too busy running the business single handed to go away. Conversation is becoming increasingly annoying with Martin’s lack of interest in their relationship, and did he really miss her whilst she had been away for 3 whole weeks! Obviously not – she then reveals she has been on holiday with Donald in Rome. He takes this badly in light of his promotion prospects and his future in the business. Conversation flits back and forth whilst the poor waitress tries to get orders for food and wine and serve. Emma find out the truth. Polly storms out, outraged Martin has no regard whatsoever for their marriage. Emma, meanwhile, utterly frustrated at Donald's lies, tips the contents of his plate onto his lap and leaves the restaurant. Donald then notices Martin and offers to buy him a drink and his meal as reward  for holding the fort whilst he was away! Off to the bar they go. The frustrated waitress clears up the mess and takes a large swig of wine from the bottle!! Most amusing.

Jac Young certainly made the most of laying the tables and attempting to take orders and serve, together with her frustration dealing with difficult customers coming across well. Dave Bourne portrayed the serious boss well whilst Val Yates as Emma Pearce certainly played the disbelieving wife with no holding back. John Search developed the character of Martin blinkered by his number one love, his job and promotion prospects, with Lyn Ford the unloved wife Polly. Script was crisp and I liked the switches from one couple to the other and then undertones from the other. Maureen Payne directed with Margaret Punter overseeing the wardrobe, which was just right. A good selection of props, with a very colourful lobster, beans and carrots!

‘Brewed Awakening’ this was also an amusing take on office life, with a bigger cast. A great tea lady whose beverages were undrinkable, a blown up coffee machine, even a working manual typewriter, embarrassing Dating App messages going viral, the threat of lost jobs and even closure of the business and an amusing arrival of ‘An Inspector’ to check office procedures and efficiency, plus a team building exercise and finally a reprieve, a budget increase and guess what, a new coffee machine. Basically, office chaos This is all achieved by the most unlikely of the characters and that was the tea lady.

This was scripted by Gavin Ashley Marlow. A new, funny and well put together idea with John Search as Mr Blckwell Office Manager, Beatrice Dixon, Dan who arrived on Monday morning with a hangover, Lyn Ford typist seated at her desk banging away on an old manual typewriter, Jac Young was Claire accompanied by her Teddy and embarrassing dating app texts on her laptop, Val Yates Attached to her mobile phone was Karen played by Val Yates plus Margaret Punter as office girl Sophie. Dave Bourne took the part of Doris the tea lady –  hair net and curlers brilliant – boots and an overall pushing the trolley with a concoction of ghastly beverages. Holly Saunders was Ms Reynolds, the intimidating office Inspector, was suited and smart, hair drawn back, wonderful specs and quite ruthless. Holly’s debut with the group and very nicely played.  The stage surround remained the same  with the addition of several office desks all suitably dressed with stationery, office equipment and even a laminator that was referred to. Costumes of today. Lighting effective through time changes. Gary Pope directed this amusing new piece together with multi-tasking as SM, assisted by Clem Collins also in charge of lighting and sound. Maggie Osgood organised F of H and  ticketing,  with Malcolm Atfield and Imogen Beale in charge of publicity.  

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