Good Things

I have not seen or heard of this Liz Lochhead bittersweet comedy before, and Director Mark Hebert only came across it himself when reading some reviews on the NODA website. It tells the story of divorcee and volunteer charity shop worker Susan Love who approaching fifty is looking for love again with the help of her coworker Frazer, who it turns out has feelings towards her himself.  The action is told in three acts over the period of one year. Various regular characters come and go, all in some way affecting Susan’s quest for love, from her ex-husband’s much younger new girlfriend, unaware of Susan’s connection, to recently widowed David to her elderly father suffering from dementia to the highly amusing Doris who spends her time trying on the racks full of clothing but exasperatingly never purchases anything.  For Wellworth Players it turned out to be a very astute choice.

The set was a very well laid out charity shop in an undisclosed town, and the action opens just after Christmas in the recent past as they are clearing the Christmas tinsel and decorations from around the shop. As soon as you saw the stage you immediately recognised it as a charity shop with clothes racks of second-hand clothing, and shelves full of books and brick-a-brack, a central counter and a magnificent dummy adorned in a fabulous looking dark red outfit. To stage right were two curtained off changing rooms, to stage left rear was an exit with fly screen to the rear of the shop with a notice above it saying ‘Staff Only’ and the entrance to the shop itself was unseen via the rear of a box built at the front of stage.  All very well lit by Boggle and Graham Emmett.

Costumes were well sourced by Marie Quick and Karen Bays. I guess the local charity shops themselves had certainly benefited from their endeavours judging by the clothes racks full of second-hand clothing. An excellent mix of the very fashionable to the possibly bizarre.

According to Mark Hebert’s programme notes the original 15 parts were played by just four actors, Mark however, thinking what could possibly go wrong only doubled up on a couple of minor parts. Sensible! It is also a very wordy play with the majority of the dialogue falling on Susan and Frazer. There were quite a few prompts, but in fairness to the very hard-working cast this was at least in part to having to make late changes to the cast and for example Neal Dench was due to play David had to step up to the much bigger part of Frazer, although he himself didn’t miss a beat! There was also a highly amusing moment enjoyed by all, cast and audience when Karen had a little trouble in the dialogue with some basic maths.

Karen Bays as Susan was a class act and a perfect choice for the lead with a very relaxed, believable performance whilst dealing with the comings and goings in the shop.  She certainly knew how to handle the range of emotions the part demands from upbeat to total shock when a fatal accident happens outside the shop.

Neal Dench, was quite a revelation as Frazer and especially considering he stepped up to the part at short notice. His subtle portrayal of the part in a mildly camp manner was brilliantly played, giving the impression of being gay when in fact he was actually holding a candle for Susan’s affections. Certainly had me fooled. Absolutely spot on characterisation.

Ann Lister as Marjorie the Manager of the shop, played this ‘must stick to the rules’ straight-laced character extremely well, causing exasperation to all associated with her. A perfect foil to Susan and Frazer’s more flexible characterisations.

The character that brought a smile to your face every time she appeared, or in a lot of cases spoke from inside the changing rooms has to be Vi Parkinson as Doris, the window shopper who never actually bought anything. Her choice of different outfits she wore every time she came into the shop also added to the wackiness of her character.

Simon West was David, a man recently widowed who keeps coming into the shop and obviously has taken a shine to Susan which she is reticent to respond to and took the whole play to come to fruition. Excellently pitched.

Then we had a whole host of completely diverse characters visiting the shop to add to the plot. Abi Pettitt who doubled up as Cheryl and the wonderfully named ‘Sympathetic’ Police Officer. Julie Gill who also doubled up as the ‘Unsympathetic’ Police Officer and the flower delivery person. Marie Quick as a ‘Well Dressed Woman.’ And then we had Francesca Hackett as Natalie, Tony’s girlfriend and Helena , David’s Daughter-in-law who caused a bit of an emotional stir from Susan, especially as she nearly walked off with the splendid high quality red shoes she covets. Tony her ex played by Mike Richards who turns up as an unwelcome visitor to discuss their daughter coming back to live with Susan. Phil Bailey a man with some presence as the Scruffy Man who very amusingly keeps bring bags into the shop for their stock. And Geoff Durrant as Archie, Susan’s father who is suffering from dementia and comes into the shop in a raincoat but without his trousers. All these small parts added greatly to the action and to our amusement, so well done one and all.

This was a good fun play, which was just perfect to relax and watch. No complicated plot to follow and lots of well-played characterisations adding greatly to the show, but the whole thing really only worked because of the extremely well played main parts, with the two main leads exceptional. So well done to Mark Hebert, his cast and crew, a job well done.

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