Curtain Up!

This is a play written by Peter Quilter the Director being Sandra Bird.

Peter Quilter is a writer whose plays have appeared on both the West End and Broadway.

It is a story of five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life again.  Bearing in mind not all five are in agreement regarding how to instigate their find and to keep it open, the mother does not agree to the plans initially and there is a mistrust between he and her ex-husbands partner. The daughter is the main instigator in wanting to keep the theatre open, grandmother doesn’t appear to mind one way or the other.

They try various fundraising schemes, but the main one is to hold a concert featuring local talent and a world-famous star, Lisa Minnelli, who agrees to appear for no fee. However, towards the end, the daughter finds out that Lisa is unable to attend having lost her voice. So they then try and put on the show without their audience realising the truth. Even to the fact they make up the mum to resemble Lisa, not very successfully, and to make matters worse she became tongue tied when on the stage. 

The actors portrayed their characters really well and are a credit to the company. Natalie Forbes-Hamilton as daughter ‘Theresa’ showed both the comedy and pathos superbly. Her friend ‘Sharon’ hilariously costumed and with great comic timing was played by Elizabeth Julian. Sue Jones, as the mother, ‘Pam’ and Samantha Gessey as Grandmother ‘Betty’, sparked off each other providing some excellent comedy banter and laugh out loud moments and great characterisation. Sue’s Lisa Minnelli impression was a comedy masterpiece! Last but by no means least, Rebecca Ward as the partner of Pam’s ex-husband, ‘Jackie’, faultlessly showing her contempt of the ex-wife with some fast-paced verbal sparring exchanges.

The brilliant one-liners come thick and fast and the cast made the most of them delighting the audience throughout.

This was the first play that Sandra has directed (usually pantos are her normal directing role), however congratulations on an impressive debut.

As is normal for Oldbury the stage management, set design, build, props, lighting, sound and costume were up to the usual standard one comes to expect from Oldbury. Congratulations to all involved.

Many thanks for the hospitality from Oldbury, much appreciated.

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