Give Us A Sign

Ken Lockwood loses his job, and he struggles to find alternative employment. His wife, Rachel, goes to work and hopes he will help with the housework instead of reading the paper all day, causing arguments. Ken decides to become a clairvoyant to make some money and, using trick lighting, convinces his clients he can hear voices from “the other side”.  Unexpectedly, MI5, the CIA and KGB seek his help in contacting from the other side the Nobel prize-winning scientist, Professor Alice Richards. They desperately need the crucial secrets about “other world dimensions” in her possession. Little did Ken know he would be involved in a sinister web of espionage, when to his surprise, the Professor makes an appearance and convinces him to trick the agents by passing them false information. As they say, “Oh what a tangled web we weave. When first we practice to decieve’ This play certainly had plenty of those.

The complex plot has numerous twists and turns, keeping the audience on their toes and curious about the outcome. Sue Brewer has done an excellent job and maintained an effective pace and timing throughout the performance. The six actors performed their roles perfectly and carried the suspense until the end of the play.

Andy Firth was brilliant as Ken Lockwood and through copious amounts of dialogue and great comic timing, he brought his character to life. Jolene Varlow, as his wife Rachel, was perfect and with excellent timing and facial expressions pointing to her feelings and thoughts about Ken. John Varlow gave a brilliant performance as the MI5 agent Lawrence Pearce - what a wonderful character - with different accents to suit. Whose side was he on: MI5, CIA or the KGB? Fiona Firth was spot on with the characterisation and accent as the not-so perfect Russian spy, Nadia Kovlova. David Colston was very good in the role of the drunken American spy, Chuck Bush, with the right accent for this character. Julie Kaye was splendid as the ghostly Professor Alice Richards; however, we were all deceived. The Professor hadn’t died after all, and it was all a con to deceive the American and Russian agents and so safely preserve the secret with MI5.

An excellent performance, so directed and performed by all the actors and with the support of a great production team of lighting, sound and backstage crews.  As always, the minimalistic design was very effective. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this a great production.

Thank you for your invite, the hospitality and a most enjoyable and entertaining evening filled with laughter.

 

Sue Cox  Drama Rep      NODA N.E.  Region 14

 

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