Jumpers For Goalposts

I was warmly welcomed on arrival by Chairperson Alison Baker and met with Director Ben Maytham after the performance.

This was the first LGBTQ+ play staged by this society and what a great performance from all the five actors, all with so much dialogue and activity on stage. Throughout the play there was a great deal of humour and comedy from the actors who all played their roles with great skill and enthusiasm.

The set had been designed and constructed by the society and featured a somewhat typically run down and dowdy team changing room for the five a side football team, Barely Athletic. Which name probably summed up the team rather well !

Sarah-Ellen Young was Viv, the only female member of the team and the team coach.  She was domineering, bossy  and loud, constantly encouraging the team to take the matches seriously and to try hard to win. However, she did reveal a more emotional and sympathetic side to her character later in the play.

Jay Stebbing was Joe, a seriously unfit widower who was a reluctant team member. He was depressed and rather moody with his team mates initially and probably the only “straight member of the team”. Unfortunately he was placed in goal for which he had no talent or interest!

Elliott McMillan played a brilliant role as Beardy Geoff, openly gay and a really fun character unable to take life seriously. He was extravagantly dressed with a great beanie hat, an  impressive beard and he constantly cracked jokes at the expense of others. However, he was very good hearted to the rest of the team. Some of his body movements were hilarious. Congratulations to Elliott on learning to strum on a guitar especially for this play, which adequately supported his singing! 

Adam Dunston, as Danny, had fallen for Luke but revealed that he had HIV. It was a sensitive and emotional performance by Adam highlighting the then stigma attached to HIV.

Ewen Beeson-Cocks was Luke, a young and very uncertain character who was  much attracted to Danny. This was a wonderful part for Ewen who captured the nervousness of Luke brilliantly. Ewen created so much hand wringing and comedy in playing the hapless Luke.. The audience loved his attempts to push open a door when it clearly needed to be pulled!.

Loraine Crook was the unseen radio announcer broadcasting the latest depressing results to the changing room.

Congratulations to all the actors and production team for giving the audience such an emotional, enjoyable and absorbing evening.  And special praise to Director Ben Maytham for his vision and skill in bringing this production to the stage. Well done everyone.

 

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