Bouncers

There is simply no getting away from the fact … that each and every trip to see a D.A.D.S production gets progressively more exciting. Since the complete, earth shattering surprise of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’,through the amazing ‘Bakewell Bake Off’ and the intoxicating ‘Rapunzel’, this group of really, really nice people have come a million miles. There was a time when ‘Bouncers’ would have seemed aspirational …. there was a time when attracting top talent from other societies would have been considered fanciful. And yet, here we were, with a cast of … mostly outsiders, having a go at the incredibly difficult ‘Bouncers’ by John Godber. I was so hyped I rushed past everyone to take a look at the set …. breath-taking! But it always is these days. When I say ‘Bouncers’ is difficult, I mean it’s a great concept, and it does have some outstanding comedy moments, also moments of heart-breaking pathos … and yards and yards of banal drivel! Talking to a very straightforward director after the show he summed it all up better than I ever could … “a lot of the script really isn’t that good”, and it isn’t. And yet amongst am dram societies it has an iconic status where open criticism is unwise. It has to be said … it is nowhere near as good as ‘Shakers’, and it’s not quite as good as ‘Teechers’ … and it falls a smidge short of ‘April in Paris’. And yet, just like nearly every other man I have ever met … I love it! So, here I was panting with anticipation as the lights went down and the music went up. The big mistake everyone makes with this title is, that because you can do it with … well nothing really, sometimes that is exactly how it is done. However, this just isn’t the Downham way. When they put on a show they throw everything at it and once again….most of it stuck. Stuck and shone! The set (uncredited) was brilliant! Enough, but not too much and perfect in every way! Light and Sound (uncredited) were both amazing. The incredibly talented Jamie Robinson was down in the program as Technical Manager, so I am guessing he is responsible for a lot of that. I spoke to him after the show and he said it took 20 hours just to get the lighting rig and sound into place and working. I totally believe him … there was mountains of the stuff and it all did what it was supposed to do and managed to lift this piece from cabaret to full blown extravaganza. Lighting and sound cues were all spot-on and a joy to behold! Costumes (uncredited) were nicely thought out. Dark suits x 4 with 2 in bow ties and 2 in standard black ties. That looked very impressive. Hair and Make up ….. there wasn’t that much hair in evidence (except on the head of Alastair Woodruff) and real men don’t do make up! Incidental props …. were just a couple of handbags really, and nothing more was required. Four men. three of which were familiar to me and one not … amateur actors in their prime, playing four doormen… in the remains of their prime. Delicious! And so .. a paragraph each would seem appropriate. In John Godber’s ‘Bouncers’, three of the cast take an equal share of the script with one very much the lead. As one of the three, it was Dale Hornsby that I had not seen before. What can I say, as Ralph he was sublime! Ralph also gets to be “Sexy Susie” and is the most girly of the girls and he did macho man and drunken slapper both equally well. So certain of his lines that I relaxed straight away and never considered him likely to stop or stutter. A new player to watch amongst some impressive contemporaries. None more so than Burtie Welland as Judd. BW is well-known to me from out Methwold way and is a talented writer, director and performer. Well cast as Judd, he did everything right, holding his own against some quality competition. I saw Alistair Woodruff give the performance that I have always wanted to give when he played Captain Stanhope in the 2014 Wisbech Players production of ‘Journeys End’ a couple of years ago. It was quiet simply beautiful to watch, and the production swept all aside to win the NODA Best Play award of that year. Mr Woodruff must take a lot of the credit for that win, and as Les in this production he was once again at the very top of his game. One of the (many) weaknesses of this title is that the part of ‘Lucky’ Eric is so well written it generally makes it difficult for the other three performers to really shine. Mr Woodruff was having none of it and he elevated the character of Les to one almost equal to the lead. Rock solid with words and moves, it was perfection. ….. and then there is Lucky Eric. He gets all the good dialogue and all the best pathos I will grant you, but you must have an actor who can be as good (or better) than the words. I therefore give you James Weatherall. Another Wisbech émigré, Mr Weatherall took the best character in the show and delivered the best performance of the production. The sad…. or even tragic ponderings of an aging bouncer almost had me in tears as he philosophised, analysed and despaired. Mr Weatherall, penultimate paragraph honours are yours, with the best Lucky Eric I have ever seen. My hat is off and I kneel before Director Phil Melia. The technical direction was undeniably flawless and the numerous clever little embellishments all showed how much …, how very much thought he had put into this production. The casting was inspirational and every member of that cast seemed in exactly the right role. I nod appreciatively also at producer Brian Reeve-Hayes. I do like it when am dram groups at least understand the difference between Producer and Director. I also salute Steve Harper. I nearly always salute Steve Harper for one reason or another, but he said to me on the night that he had auditioned for this production and been told he was too old … and I said it was a good call. But instead of sulking in a corner he threw himself into the immersive atmosphere created in the auditorium, where the bar was busy and the performers were omnipresent and always in character. If you can’t join em .. beat em, and that is what Mr Harper did. Well played Downham. A stunning production that follows on from the last three stunning productions ….. Downham is in the premiership now, and it’s only a matter of time before they challenge for the title.

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