Cash 0n Delivery

A hilarious comedy from the pen of Michael Cooney which left the audience totally involved in the incredibly complicated plot with so many changes of identitiy going on through the show, and a cast who had such a lot to cope with in the dialogue with constant character changes.

To explain it all would be almost impossible,as it required an enormous amount of concentration to absorb the plot which had to be seen to believe.

Keith Raby had a major role as Eric Swan, as did Mark Hinson as Norman Bassett, and both did extremely well.At times Keith had a tendency to drop his voice which was called for in the play,and I hope the people sitting way back in the hall heard the” aside’s” which were so funny?          

Mark as Norman Bassett grew in the character really well and gave a great performance.Facially he was amusing to watch, and also the quick thinking to cover all the drama’s was excellent.

Uncle George played so well by Gordon Prior has a talent for very natural speech and was so good in this role, and Barry Eldridge as George Jenkins had a good sense of timing and was perfect in this character.

Val Eldridge as Linda the long suffering wife of Eric gave a very confident performance with very clear diction and a believable character.

I would have liked rather more of a professional feel to Dr Chapman, but very smartly dressed and well played with Sheila Martin,Perhaps a little more weight in her dialogue would have been good.

Lesley Mercer as Sally  was very good with a gentle manner which suited her character very well.Lesley always gives full attention to any part she undertakes.

Geoff Hewitson made the most of the rather sombre funeral director Mr Forbright. and Geneva Downes as Ms Cowper was terrific as the haughy official from the Social Services.

Emily Jamieson as Brenda completed the cast and did well as the totally bemused fiancee of Norman.

I did feel that the scene involving moving the corpse in the wheelchair went on far too long, and became rather overdone. Some of the cast involved in this scene had their backs to the audience which also blocked what was going on.

The set was well planned, if not a little plain, and the sound and lighting good.

This was a very lengthy play and in Act 11 the pace did slow from time to time but with so much to remember I was not surprised.

A well chosen production for the group, and very much enjoyed by the audience.

 An interesting choice with “The Hot Mikado”next year which I look forward to seeing.

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