Entertaining Angels

What a truly excellent choice of play with so many dimensions and structures and relationships: not only the comedy touches, but the drama and pathos and thought provoking situations and dialogue: Tabi Paternoster drew it all together with great skill and empathy and her team gelled and worked well with characters (4F, 1M a good mix) of experience and newer members.
 But first must draw attention to the truly excellent design of set which more than enhanced the action and made the play special with atmosphere and the ‘right’ staging. Created by David Paternoster, the house and garden of the vicarage were substantial and credible, complete with the all-important greenhouse plus patio for action. And then the split stage revolved SL and to replace the greenhouse there was the bank of the stream complete with vegetation and seat and noise of running water and dappled lighting, what a perfect mood change and so very clever and appropriate.
 The casting of the two ‘mature’ ladies and the two young women good and well balanced to the ‘angel’ body of the departed vicar Bardolf (seen only by widow): this team worked both age-wise and in characterisation.
 Newcomer Emma Kirkham as Sarah (the new vicar) seemed ideal in the role showing the mood changes in dialogue with mother and daughter and keeping the interest in the twists of the tale, well sustained. The age balance and interaction worked well with Jo played by Cathey Rix as these two could spark off each other in interests, understanding and sympathy. And then there was the relationship between Jo and her mother and her aunt, and of course the memories of her father, all played to the full.
 The antagonism between the sisters Grace and Ruth (understandable in the circumstances) really fired off in bitterness and jealousy, certainly Tracey Hobbs as Ruth  blossomed in the role as the play moved on, and surprises and twists in tale abounded as the struggle to be dominant took place.
 But the role to be the lynch pin of this play, to dominate but yet to surprise in her weakness at times, the relationships with sister and daughter and husband, the amount of dialogue and the versatility of moods, the timing and sensibility variations, Amanda Oelrichs was masterly in performance as Grace.
 And the man of the play, such a good foil for Grace but holding his own against all comers even though appearance limited physically to one viewer only, but his actions impinged on the affairs of all in the play, delicately balanced, David Atkinson as Bardolf.
 Really all one can say is that this was such a well written and realised play, inter-actions and relationships worked, no one moved throughout as all so engrossed with the dialogue, excellent.

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