Green Forms and The Dumb Waiter

A relaxed seating around circular tables works very well in this hall and my view was perfect on a table right at the front. Cheerfully greeted, meeting familiar and new faces too. Tonight’s entertainment came in the form of two amusing pieces from the prolific writings of Alan Bennett and Harold Pinter.  The first with wordy repetitive script rapidly delivered between the two performers bouncing off each other with some amusing interruptions, the second slower, controlled silences, a much darker comedy drama with just two characters. Louis Robinson devised an interesting ‘upside down’ colour programme for the two plays with descriptive artwork, good content as an A5, containing cast details, society detail, writers biogs and forthcoming production news.

An open office set for ‘Green Forms’ showed two angled desks fully equipped with papers, files, telephones, of around the late 70’s, downstage a small table holding a steaming kettle, coffee making utensils and a tin of biscuits with ‘mail in and out’ furniture placed  the opposite side of stage plus one wilted plant. Central towards the back of the stage was another desk – but why? It is the start of an ordinary day at the office in an obscure department of a large national organisation located somewhere up North, where spinster Doris, who looks after infirm Mother, a Grade 3 no less, sits at her desk busy reading a newspaper – smarter of the two, with married Doreen of a lesser grade, more casual at the other, and really not too worried should anything happen because she has her Clifford to fall back on. Two strong  characters dealing with things as relevant today with the ever threat of redundancy. A Green Form appears but who deals with Green Forms, is it Mrs. Henstritch? After much discussion a possible answer is found and it is redirected. The two shuffle papers and pink forms and the name Dorothy Binns is mentioned. A cameo entry comes from a wonderful one armed, deadpan faced postie and master of many odd jobs, Frank Lennox and assistant almost speechless Boswell, Frank putting across the virtues of belonging to the TGWU or the ASTMS unions. Is doom and gloom to befall the department? The two discover after breaking into the empty desk at the rear of the stage that belongs to Dorothy Binns! A stern entry from said lady - portrayed by Sandra Dedman uttering  the words ‘What am I – I  am work’ is followed by screams. Very well executed with well-rehearsed repetitive dialogue, retaining good accents, fast and furious between Vanessa Perrin as Doris and Gabby Brooks, Doreen which had very funny and surprising moments and a wonderful appearance of Mac Mercer and almost silent Henrik Hansen adding further humour. Direction was by Brenda Hansen, first time with the Players, with attention to much detail. A most amusing but also relevant play of concerns in the workplace even today.

‘The Dumb Waiter’ is a dark Pinter comedy drama. A simple black backed, dark basement room with central scruffy double bed, a coat stand and a couple of chairs with exits to kitchen with a gas stove and a toilet with a very dodgy flushing system. To one side a black box with a speaking tube – the dumb waiter. Just two characters – Gus and Ben obviously a couple of gangsters when handguns appear as part of their attire, which is black, smart jackets, collar and tie waiting for instructions from a higher level. Gus the younger is impatient and is seen putting on his shoes, and asking questions after a long silence as Ben who appears to be cool is thumbing a newspaper cover to cover.  He requests tea but the gas to light the stove runs out and all they have is milk, a bar of chocolate, packet of crips and a single Eccles cake. Suddenly the dumb waiter comes to life and when opened contains a strange request as if this was a restaurant order. Several of these appear and in desperation they send off their snacks. When will instructions come? They do and they go through the order of procedure as the victim will enter the room. Is there a play on word here,  as of course after a further exit to the toilet Gus appears in front of the unmoved Ben who is pointing his pistol at him when the realisation that Gus himself is the target of the job hits him.

A fine family collaboration here with Gary Robinson playing a cool Ben and son Louis the always questioning Gus, with Alison Robinson (Gary’s wife and mother of Louis) directing. Although dark in content there were some excellent humorous moments too.

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