Fool's Paradise

Bilton Amateur Dramatic Society celebrated 70 years of drama in May with the play ‘Fool’s Paradise’ by Peter Coke.

Catherine Hayling and Jane Hayling were both married to Basil Hayling (not at the same time).  Basil, now dead, has left them his large house filled with antiques but no money to run it.  Consequently they quickly run up high levels of debt.  Several people seem to be potential saviours, their hypochondriac friend, antique dealer Brigette, their ancient maid Rose and Brigette’s TV producer son James.  The arrival of the wealthy Fiona, the ex of Catherine’s son Philip, might provide some financial respite … but Philip has a secret.

In the background a dubious antique dealer in the form of Julius Caxton generously leaves a deposit on some emeralds he hasn’t seen.  No obligation there then?  One by one the other characters offer to help the two wives with money until Catherine and Jane have no idea how to pay it back.  The emeralds appear to be their only option - or could it be Conchita?

Farcical plays such as this are very much of their time, inoffensive and entertaining and needing to be played at a good pace.  All performers generally played their parts well but the experience of Helen Davison (as Jane and then as the third wife, Conchita) and Dave Hawxwell (as dodgy Julius Caxton) showed up particularly well as when they were on stage together the pace of the play immediately picked up having, at times, dropped without them.  Helen gave a wonderful performance of pace and lightness of touch in keeping the energy of the play and she was very well supported by Dave in that regard. 

Farces contain real characters in not so real situations and sometimes the actors and actresses needed their characters to be bigger.  Rose, the old maid, had great potential to be a funny and cantankerous old person and Rachel Lawson, who can clearly deliver a comic line (although needs not to smile when she does), could have made more of the grumpiness and awkwardness of the character.

Catherine Hayling, played by Sarah Knights, was a good foil to the giddy Jane Hayling, Basil's first wife.  Susan Dawson, played by Rachel Wilson, and Philip Hayling, performed by Danny Barr, did nothing wrong but could have been more conspiratorial when together and more passionate when onstage on their own as it turned out they had just got married.

Shannon Fishburn, as Fiona Renshaw, exhibited a good understanding of her character in a lovely cameo role and played the part with brightness, lightness and at a good pace.

Brigette Blair acted as a counterweight to Julius Caxton and Kay MacGuire, whilst her pace was good, could possibly have added a little more expression and been more eccentric.

First time director Peter Abraham did a workmanlike job with blocking it and provided an attractive set well decorated and filled with antiques.

Fool’s Paradise was an easy going play and the patrons all enjoyed it and overall the society did a good job in their presentation of it.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.