Comic Potential

This was my first visit to a play performed by Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society as Noda representative and I was greeted by a warm welcome from the company.

A very clever satirical play from the pen of Ayckbourn with an excellent slant on the production to bring out all the quirks and funny lines and different aspects and to capitalise on the large cast. Debut direction of this play was by Robert Gairey [congratulations].

A strong team in the TV production side with some excellent portrayals by Graham Perkins of Chandler very well supported by the ‘technical’ girls Prim and Trudi (Penni Carr & Elinor Brunker); especially in the fight against the management primadonna Carla Pepperbloom (Linda Vickers).

As the hopeful writer, Adam Trainsmith, Alex Brent had to relate to all the TV Studio relationships, confrontations, and progressions towards the goal, all of which worked well with good pace and timing. He also had to set up the ‘romance’ factor and make it develop and deepen with the ‘actoid’, and made it very credible and emotional.

As the ‘actoid’ Jacie Triplethree, Flora Kerridge gave a strong performance: did she blink when in robot mode, did she emote and activate into dialogue and feelings and a learning curve for human when with Adam?

These two players held the attention of the audience and brought out all the comedy in the situation.

Some very good supporting performances from Harri Herinman, Doireann Golmore, Mike Freeman, Geoff Lake and Sally Mathias.

The set was well designed and functional and the lighting was appropriate. Stage props and costumes were authentic.

 

Thank you to your hospitality, I look forward to the next production.

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