Haywire

This was an extremely entertaining evening. With performances well supported by the local community and promoted by the South Staffordshire Arts Council, it ensured few vacant seats were available each night. This play was written by Eric Chappell of ’Rising Damp.’ fame and Haywire promised to be a funny play. I would go as far as describing it as a comic masterpiece.

The main character, Alec (Adam Barrett) runs a bookshop and lives above it. He arranges for his wife, Maggie (Jayne Kelly), to take a trip, 3 capitals in 5 days, not forgetting the bulb fields! He plans at the same time to travel to Spain with Liz, his bookshop assistant and mistress, without causing his wife to be suspicious. However, not all goes according to plan when one disaster befalls another. Maggie has bought a new puppy and this means plans need now to include how the puppy can be looked after when he too secretly goes away on holiday, and, when his mother, acid tongued Phoebe (Fiona Bingham) arrives on the scene, having discharged herself from her old people’s home, Alec explores the idea of how he can still go to Spain in secret, by inviting his children to look after the puppy and now the grandmother . Alec’s son, Jamie (Nathan Coley), responds to his father’s request to look after Phoebe, his grandmother, but when he arrives with a broken ankle he clearly is incapacitated; and when his daughter, Mandy (Sammi Rhead), turns up, heavily pregnant she is not practically able to help out either.  Chaos and mayhem ensued; Alec’s plans consistently thwarted with all the elements of a farce. This play with its dysfunctional family members created hilarity and so many laugh aloud moments from the audience.

 Credit is due to experienced directors, Wendy, and Colin Peterson for securing a strong cast. The dialogue was earnest in delivery in all interactions from the main characters from three generations. Timing was well paced. The staging was fast moving and the ‘surprise, ‘elements sustaining our engagement as we watched. It was undoubtedly, a night of laughter but this would only have been secured by hard work and rehearsal. The set designed and constructed by John Bingham (and a team of others) suited the action of the play and was effective as the living room. Doors were solid on both sides of the stage allowing for typical farce chaos with swift exits and entrances. Lighting was appropriate. Sound effects, attributed to Paul Davies, were spot on with the timing of the phone ring and the addition of music (‘Spanish Flea’ by Herb Albert’s Tiyana Brass) which provided interlude between scenes as well as nostalgia for some.

Adam Barrett is to be congratulated in his role as Alec for remembering such a lot of dialogue and working hard to keep the lines flowing so rapidly to deliver the comedy punch lines so effectively. His growing frustrations and frantic manipulations in his character expressed facially and vocally; Adam gave an outstanding performance. Jayne Kelly played his wife, Maggie, and whilst this was her first key role, she played the part with confidence, warmth, and sincerity. Lucy Kendrick was delightful in role as Liz and played the part of frustrated mistress with great aplomb, constantly urging Alec to hurry up so they could get away to Spain. Fiona Bingham portrayed the role of the formidable and deliberately awkward and grumpy Phoebe most convincingly. Fiona’s characterisation was amazing, her facial expression, voice tone, demonstrative behaviour through body language and stilted movement were consistent, a talented performer. Nathan played Jamie with excellent comedic ability and made the most of every opportunity to create a laugh; every line he delivered captured attention and often wearing a cheeky grin. He was adept with a pair of crutches too. Sammi Rhead gave a solid performance as heavily pregnant Mandy. She managed her bump well as well as her false alarm. When she took part in the heated discussion about the merits of marriage her character gained empathy from the audience.

Well done to Wendy and Colin and all the cast and crew who helped create this comic play come to life. The audience appreciated it. Thank you for inviting us from NODA .

 

 

 

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