Dangerous Corner

As this was a play I wasn’t familiar with, I did some research before viewing it. I discovered that it was JP Priestley’s first solo play. It was set in the drawing room of Freda and Robert Caplan. Following dinner, the ladies have retired to the said drawing room and are listening to the end of a wireless play, which ends with a gunshot, a woman screaming and another sobbing. An announcer states that they have been listening to ‘The Sleeping Dog by Humprey Stoat’. The women’s discussion of the play leads onto the suicide of Freda’s brother-in-law. The men join the women and a chance remark by the spinsterish Olwen relating to a musical cigarette box is a trigger to a series of scandalous revelations relating to the relationships with those present and Martin Caplan. ‘They are shown to have turned a dangerous corner which has led to the truth – the sleeping dog – coming out.’

This play is certainly of its time and explored some controversial issues, those of bisexuality, pornography and drug addiction. It is a very wordy text presented over three acts with the final act revisiting Act 1 with a twist in the tale.

Time had been taken to create a believable 1930’s drawing room with a fireplace and an eclectic group of furniture from a coffee table to wooden dining chairs, a settee and armchair. A variety of cushions would have enhanced these items. There were period prints on the walls including one on the outside of the exit stage right, an excellent addition. It was good to see that time had been taken to source a period radio, drinks cabinet and sideboard. A lit window looking out onto foliage with a window seat was set along the back wall before the play began; I feel more elaborate window dressing would have added to the opulence. The window seat was a useful additional pew; however the actors were masked when they used it. The room was artificially lit by a central light with three arms and a working standard lamp which created a warm atmosphere.

There was a simple lighting bar set up at the front of the hall and period music was played before the play and during the intervals, which added to the ambience. The sound was well managed with the radio switch off and the gun shots being accurate. The props were period, plentiful and well used by the cast; it would have been beneficial if you could have found larger brandy balloons as they were referred to.

The choice of ladies’ period costumes was excellent. Freda looked beautiful in her green dress with the cut away detail at the back and her fur tippet scarf added elegance. Betty’s paler lemon dress fitted well and looked good on the younger actor; the addition of the fur stole when she returned to the house added style.  Olwen’s black dress with a beaded cape fitted well and Miss Mockridge navy evening dress with fur stole were appropriate for the more mature ladies. Freda and Miss Mockridge’s elegantly waved hair and Olwen’s updo with net added to the period feel but I felt that Betty’s hair was too modern and would have looked more appropriate in larger rolls or put up. The outfits the men wore were not as successful. Robert looked suave and sophisticated in his black dinner suit with bow tie and black shoes but Gordon and Charles’ mismatched clothing did not match the ladies.  The other gentlemen present would have been attired in the same dark outfits as Robert.  

The play relies on skilful performances and the cast’s ability to relate to their character, other members of the cast, and build the tension as the story develops, which I thought they did. The interactions between the couples and work mates were emotional, quick and intense. The production was well cast with actors coping well with the copious script. Act 1 was brilliantly presented with great pace, and there were only a few slips in Acts 2 and 3; I wondered if perhaps this was as a result of the show had been rehearsed from the beginning every time. The actors used the playing area extremely well, moving around the stage comfortably, relating to each other and - in all but a few minutes - positioning themselves correctly.  

It was fascinating to see how the supposedly positive relationships all gradually disintegrated as we are led down many twisting paths.  Our hosts Robert and Freda played a believable happily married couple until all their misdescriptions came to light. Robert gave a convincing portrayal of a senior director of a business, totally in charge with no idea how the evening would develop and how the world he commanded and his feelings would fall apart. What an accomplished actor Freda is, I would like to comment her on her accent which was on point throughout the show. The pure emotion she displayed when she discovered the truth about Martin was exceptional. Our younger married couple Freda’s brother Gordon and Betty his wife appeared again to depict wedded bliss. Gordon displayed his obsessive attachment to Martin well and seemed to enjoy the effect his revelations had on his sister. It might be worth working on other ways of displaying menace and anger rather than shouting. Betty spoke well and displayed her petulant character. She appeared to enjoy the revelations of her affair with Charles and the devastating affect these had on Robert. Olwen was played in quiet and competent manner and was the voice of reason until her raw emotion was shown at the denouement. The actor playing Charles did so with brooding proficiency. He clearly displayed his contempt of Robert when admitting that he played Robert off against Martin relating to the £500 to his obvious feelings for Freda and affair with Betty. Miss Mockridge depicted the nosey author convincingly as she sat listening and surveying the action as it happened.

Your director pulled together an excellent team who brought out the best of this well written text developing the complexities of the relationships and exchanges between those on stage. Thank you for an excellent evening’s entertainment.

 

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