Curtain Call

The latest offering from St John’s Payers, this time directed by John Levantis, was Bettine Manktelow’s Curtain Call depicting the chaotic day in the life of Alec Partridge, Manager of the Thurlow Playhouse. He has a lot to deal with: Doreta Mason, director of an amateur production of Oklahoma! at the theatre, demanding not only real corn but also real horses in the show; Ms Murdstone, the far from genial agent from the Arts Council, arrives to assess the theatre’s eligibility for a grant; the Front of House manager’s flirty ways upset Alec’s secretary Val and, worst of all, Doreta’s husband Clarence, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, appears on the scene, bringing his own brand (or lack) of negotiation skills to bear on the ever-worsening situation.

The setting was suitable for the manager’s office with an excellent backdrop visible through the window stage left.  It could maybe have been a bit more cluttered although I realise that would have cut down more on the acting area.  I personally felt the coat stand full of what appeared to be pantomime costumes seemed rather incongruous. Maybe that was a script instruction but, in my own experience of offices, boxes full of unwanted books, papers or other admin detritus would have been much more likely.  Lighting did all that it needed to do and sound cues were well executed although the phone (to my ears) seemed to ring on the opposite side of the stage to the desk.  Costumes were suitable for the period and looked well.

The production had reasonable pace although first night nerves elicited prompts which affected this and the smooth delivery of the dialogue in several cases.  Stu Walpole as misogynistic boss Alec Partridge certainly looked the part but initially appeared slightly ill at ease. I would like to have seen a bit more light and shade in his delivery but his crumbling to a nervous wreck in front of the Arts Council lady and even more so when confronted with the theatre’s Chairman of the Trustees worked.  Martin Hunt made the most of his role as Murphy, the womanising front of house manager. He was on stage most of the time and cornered the market in facial expressions as he reacted to the chaos evolving around him.  David Morris was well cast as Local Councillor and Chairman of the Trustees Clarence Mason.  A fine characterisation of an egotistical and very unlikeable man.  Prue Harrison was at the top of her form as Doreta Mason.  She had the lion’s share of the dialogue, particularly in the long and very wordy second act, which was faultlessly delivered.   

The show gave other cast members the chance to produce some nice cameos and the principals were well supported by Susy Worzencraft as Ms Murdstone from the Arts Council, Lucy Peters making her stage debut as Lulu Lynchpin the Theatre’s Stage Manger, Poppy Saunders as Val Mashall, Murphy’s jealous girlfriend and Sarah Clark as Rita who, it turned out, was much more than just a tea lady. 

This play isn’t performed that often. Described as a comedy drama the cast struggled to get the humour across. Often a small audience is hesitant to laugh out loud which was maybe the problem on opening night.  Conversely the unknown gentleman on my right was chuckling away and told me he had enjoyed it so maybe lots of us were just smiling rather than laughing.  I am sure the play will go down well with hopefully larger audiences as the run progresses.

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