Dirty Dusting

Dirty Dusting a comedy by Ed Waugh and Trevor Woods set in an office, the three mature ladies have a ball when their income from cleaning is about to be cut short:  they get creative.

The set was a disused office with paint on the walls that had seen better days. A bookcase on the back wall with folders and files also coat stand. Stage Right Upstage was a door into the cleaning cupboard housing the Henry Hoover. Stage Left was the exit and entrance and way to the other offices. Three small trestle tables were Downstage front each with a telephone. Stage Right against the wall was a desk with files, radio and tea making facilities. Stage Left was another table with various boxes piled up underneath it and old-fashioned computer on top. Various office chairs and suitable posters and pinboard on the wall. Set Construction Andy Haymes, Peter Hood, Ian Hunter and Eddie Stanley. Set Decoration was by Peter Hood, Andy Haymes and Eddie Satnley. Props were by Jo Hibbert, Jenny Whur and Paul Whur. Costumes all looked in keeping with the characters - costumes by Alex Haymes, Jo Hibbert, Danny Tooby and cast members.

Sound was good and the Dictaphone used was effective. Well-chosen music for each scene. Sound Compilation, Editing and Operation was by Paul Whur. Lighting worked well during the scenes, I just could not see the characters faces at the end for the song, which was a shame. Lighting was by Jenny Ackerley, Lee Ackerley, Tom Ackerley and Jenny Whur.

Jenny Whur directs and the laughs are plentiful with a good use of the stage and the three women really gelling as friends, each character is individual. A few line wobbles and prompts which were recovered from. The women had good chemistry on stage. The audience certainly had a good laugh.

Stewart Racle takes on the role of Dave the Boss. With his inflated ego and misogynist and ageist view towards the women, it was then good to see how he reacted to his mum’s phone call. So funny. He played the character so full of himself so we as the audience delight in his demise at the end. Gemma Manfredi played Gladys aka Madonna playing the role of the prude and not wanting to get involved, with an innocent air about her. Gladys becomes the leader and gives her marriage a new lease of life for sex with her husband despite him ending up in hospital. Not quite getting what a sex line is about at first and the talk of large pants not being sexy, she soon enters into the swing of things and enjoys the notoriety.

Andrea Peters plays Elsie aka Kylie. Elsie is up for the Telephone Belles’ sex line from the get go, even though she revels in talking about death, you did get the feeling she was lonely and reveals this later. Some great lines and always the joker of the group. “Sucking on a sherbert lemon used to be so innocent” hilarious line. Great Character.  Olive aka Marilyn played by Karen Ward. Living by the Girl Guide code at all times Olive reveals all is not what appeared in her marriage. Olive bit by bit reveals the life she lived and it’s her idea for the sex chat line. Rather than be thrown on the unemployed scrap heap she takes action. Karen slowly unravels Olive to us and we see another lonely person emerge and take action with her life. Well played.

Thank you for the laughs, invite and hospitality from my guest Matthew and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

D5 Rep

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