Don't Dress for Dinner

The farce “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is Mark and Sue’s debut as directors, and they have succeeded in producing a first-class play. The play's intricate plot, filled with mistaken identities and cleverly disguised intentions, was skilfully navigated by the directors and cast. The actors delivered their lines with impeccable timing and had the audience in fits of laughter.

Living in a renovated French farmhouse, Bernard is hoping to send his wife, Jacqueline, to her mother’s for the weekend leaving him free to romance his mistress, Suzanne, a Parisian model. Bernard hires a specialist cook, Suzette, and invites his friend Robert along as an alibi – what can go wrong?

Just as the play begins it becomes obvious that not everything is going to go to plan. After taking a call from an agency that Suzette is on her way, Jacqueline starts to get suspicious of Bernard and cancels the trip to her mother’s. Bernard now panics and when Robert arrives, he begs him to tell his wife that “Suzy” is his girlfriend but, unbeknown to Bernard, Jacqueline is having an affair with Robert. As Bernard and Jacqueline go out, “Suzy” arrives but it is Suzette the caterer and not Suzanne the mistress. Robert thinks Suzette is Bernard’s mistress and she is quickly roped into the web of deception, much to her bemusement. This marks the beginning of the confusion running throughout the play and when Suzanne arrives, Robert mistakenly assumes that she is the cook, and it is understandable that he occasionally forgets what story he has told to whom. The audience is kept on the edge of their seats as the characters' improvisations and quick-thinking lead to a series of hilarious misunderstandings and mistaken identities.

The cast had to stay sharp and concentrate with so many intricate and fabricated narratives, rapid-paced dialogue and slap-stick humour. Hours of hard work, rehearsals and direction have gone into creating the mannerisms to match the characters and in keeping the storyline on track. Brilliant work from all the actors who gave confident performances and worked very well together.

Lee Sanderson was superb as Bernard and likewise Pamela Abrahams as his wife, Jacqueline. Lucas Gunson was amazing in the role of Robert (did he ever come up for breath?) and Tracey Briggs gave a brilliant performance as the zany character of Suzette. Yasmin Angove-Middleton excelled as the Parisian model, Suzanne, with a great accent. George, Suzette's husband and with a bit of a temper, came to collect his wife, the cook, and that is when everything started to unravel. Cracks appeared in the “who is who” and “what is what” Mark Hague-Flint was spot-one with his character.

At the end of a hectic evening, who ends up with whom? George goes home with his wife, and we see Bernard and Jacqueline very happily going to their bedroom.  Robert & Suzanne? - they of course also go into one bedroom.     

The set design added an authentic touch to the French farmhouse setting and the outfits were perfect suited to the characters. The lighting and sound effects were well-coordinated and enhanced the production. Overall, the debut direction by Mark Kilburn-Stones and Sue Jennings was a resounding success, they brought out the best in their actors and all delivered a thoroughly entertaining evening. The applause at the end of the play was a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Thank you for the invite and hospitality and a wonderful evening out.

 

Sue Cox                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         NODA NE, Region 14 Drama Rep

 

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