Drinking Habits

“Drinking Habits” by Tom Smith is a brilliant farce and well interpreted by Durrington Theatrical Society’s eight characters portrayed in the story leading to a a fast moving  and extremely funny two hours of enjoyment.

The cast of this play commences with two nuns, a Mother Superior, a groundsman, two reporters, a priest and a novice whose final vows are not yet taken but dressed as a fully fledged nun. Add to this the fact that Mother Superior is a widow with an abhorrence to alcohol, the nuns are selling wine to the local village, the male reporter dresses up as a priest, nun and cardinal and, to add to the confusion, a telegram arrives from the Pope saying that there is a chance that the convent may close. It would appear that  the criteria required to remain open do not look good.

The set was a room in the convent with five entrances/exits which enabled the hapless confused characters to hide in or appear from at crucial opportune/inopportune moments. One room was the where the grape juice and wine were kept in different coloured bottles. This provided plenty opportunity for confusion and drunkenness. One short section towards the end of act one involved the music, Yakety Sax (Benny Hill music), whilst the various combinations of people spying on one another took place in fast forward mode. This was very cleverly executed.  

The two nuns, Philamena and Augusta (Pam Stringer and Aimee Bullimore) had plenty of dialogue whilst trying to deceive Mother Superior (Lia Roper) as to the fact that they had to obtain more bottles to continue with the wine-making. This was coped with extremely well. Paul (Robin Ferguson), jilted at the alter by Sally (Simone Munroe) but still working together as reporters, both have to dress up as nuns to avoid being rumbled. Paul, later, has to impersonate a priest and a cardinal. George (Daniel Paine) was a groundsman who loved a young girl some years before and lo and behold - who comes in but a novice nun - Mary Catherine (Becky Wilson). George has to impersonate a priest as another spying operation is required by Mother Superior. Unable to express himself to SIster Mary because of both of their false identities, all obviously ends happily - as also with Paul and Sally. Father Chenille(Peter Woodman) was the local priest. All the parts were well cast and dialogue was totally confident and, despite the utter confusion of the storyline, well understood by us the audience. The final twist in the story revealed in the last few minutes was quite unexpected and made a superb ending.

Congratulation to those on stage, backstage and to the production team for a most enjoyable and funny evening.                        

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