Cheshire Cats

It is so daunting when a society loses it’s performance space and must hunt for suitable new premises, so up to the challenge, MADAOS found a venue in March Library. This was a brave decision, would it work, can we achieve a blackout etc. for scene changes, sound? Light? Changing rooms? Well, whatever the challenges, MADAOS went ahead with this small cast play, and it was a good entertaining production.

This is a small cast play whom we met in sequence; they all performed with passion and conviction and gave sterling performances. The characters are taking part in a Moonwalk with the aim of raising funds for an un-named Cancer Charity which can affect members of the cast and audience in different ways.

This was a group performance and they bonded together both as characters and as actors displaying great camaraderie, I’m afraid I’m going to group them together in my comments as they all gave strong entertaining performances. Being such a small venue, the audience was right on top of the cast and this did not faze them at all, with entrances through the audience as well as either side of the ‘stage’ space. Characterisation was great, with good accents, energy was kept up all the time, this is a play which requires all the cast to be active on stage, there was no sign of flagging at any time during the show. Dialogue was clear, timing was excellent, humour in both action and movement was well portrayed. As already said each actor epitomized the characters they were assigned, first up was Nicky Marsh as Vicky, a newcomer to MADAOS, quickly joined by Della Reed as Maggie, another newcomer was the entertaining Wendy Coles as Hilary who always gives great portrayals. Jenna Hawkins as Siobhan and Eleanor Pettet as Yvonne made up this talented quintet. Those who don’t know the story this quintet is made up to a sextet by the addition of Martin Lightburn reprising the role of Andrew, Vicky’s ‘toyboy’ lover who gamely completes the walk in drag, another fine performance.

The cast was completed by Hannah Furlong as the Aerobics Instructor, police office and as Ethel, part of a double act with Marian Savill as Madge giving us an amusing pair pf stewards at checkpoints along the walk, nicely drawn humour.

Despite the drawbacks of performing in the library space MADAOS had created a simple but effective set using triple panels which featured a country landscape, Chester Railway Station and London at Night, there was a good lighting plot which followed the time-line and locations very effectively. There were also good sound effects and of course the costumes for the Moonwalk itself, the costumes were very good and there were effective personal props. Scene changes were quick and with the help of cast and crew were effectively performed. This was an entertaining and enjoyable production so much congratulations to the cast, crew and Director Claire Lilley and Assistant Director Eleanor Pettet. Good luck for the future.

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