Bus Stop

Bus Stop is by William Inge. Its set in a small town diner outside of Kansas City with a snowstorm raging, and the bus on which the cast are travelling has to pull over and stop at a diner until the road reopens. The group of stranded travellers all have their own stories to tell, and the different relationships that are formed along the way. Director Brian Buck has a great cast for this play. 

The set is perfect and just looks like a fifties diner, which has great attention to detail with the props. The sound and lighting is just right. The costumes are also good. You really felt like you were in the diner with them and could almost feel the cold when the door opened.

Everyone played their parts well, it was nice to watch different things happening in the background while others were talking.

Grace Hoylard is the owner of the diner played by Michele Arkle you really felt she'd worked there and was in full control of the diner. Elma Duckworth played by Gemma Wilkes is her young waitress, she is very naive but has big dreams. They both work well together. Will Masters the Sheriff is played by Phil Rainforth, he is very believable in the part. 

Dr Gerald Lyman is played by Richard Barnett another strong actor playing the former college professor. He comes across as intellectual but is also on the lookout for another wife or girlfriend and he's taken a shine to Elma.

Cherie is a singer and dancer a great part played very well by Emma Davis, full of energy she bursts on to the stage telling the Sheriff she needs protecting from Bo Decker a Rancher superbly played by Vic Milne who is infatuated with Cherie and is taking her back to his ranch to marry her. He comes over as caring but also very overpowering and doesn't understand why she wants to get away.

Virgil Blissing nicely played by Shawn Condra is Bo's Ranch Hand and best friend, he is a good listener to both Bo and Cherie and try's to give them advice.

Carl the bus driver played by Richard Sansom is a frequent visitor to the Diner not just because its the stop on his route but he and Grace have a thing going on together there is a good chemistry between them both but it's very hush hush and the others don't seem to notice there both missing for some of the play.

There are some fun moments while they pass the time waiting, Gerald and Elma do a scene from Romeo and Juliet, Cherie gets all dressed up and sings a song from her shows, and Virgil plays his guitar and sings I liked his song. They get the notice the road has reopened, and all get back on the bus, Cherie decides to make ago if it with Bo but Virgil decides to stay and find a new life for himself somewhere else. 

Well done to everyone on a great play.

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