KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

Keeping Up Appearances is one of those programmes that was deeply embedded in many of our TV lives that the mere mention of an invitation to a Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) candlelight supper sent people fleeing!  This is the first time I have seen the stage production – and what an enjoyable evenings entertainment Suttons Green Hut Theatre Company gave us.

The action of the play is centred around a church hall where social climber Hyacinth is showing her new painting “Willows by Moonlight” at the local art exhibition. At the same time and in the same venue her long-suffering neighbour Emmet is directing a play for the local amateur dramatic company.  He is determined to go to extreme lengths to keep Hyacinth out of the play.  When Hyacinth hears that the part of Lady Malvern is yet to be cast, nothing will stop her from taking this role.

Alison Waters had the extremely huge task of stepping into the shoes of Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket.  She gave a great portrayal of the overbearing character with all the nuances that we know and love about Hyacinth.  In the stage version gone is the “The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking” and in its place in an equally pretentious manner “you have reached the personal mobile telephone of Hyacinth Bouquet, this is she speaking”.  I loved the ring tone of “The Sound of Music”, which caused a ripple of laughter every time this was heard!

Playing the nervy next door neighbour Liz was Anne Moody, who had good stage presence and delivered her lines with clarity.  She was gentle and kind and had a real calming influence on her brother Emmet.

Josh Breeze, playing Emmet, gave us a great portrayal of the highly strung character, and there was some good acting and chemistry between Liz, Hyacinth and his character.  Josh gave a very commanding performance, and again delivered his lines with confidence and clarity.

Philip Smith gave a fabulous performance as Onslow, alongside Katrina Knights as the slovenly Daisy.  Both characterisations were first class and I loved the chemistry between them.  Their comedy timing was excellent.

Emma-Jayne Waters gave us a very funny portrayal of Hyacinth’s youngest sister Rose. With her love for married men and short provocative clothing she gave a very funny and strong performance, and there was a good rapport between her character and “Milly”.

Two characters appear in the play that I don’t remember being in the TV version - Milly, played by Bryan Blackie, a computer geek who catches the roaming eye of Rose, and Mrs Debden, played by Doreen Smith, the formidable chair of the local charity committee. Both gave good performances and complemented the known characters really well.

Ray Waters had the wonderful cameo role of Daddy which was very funny – complete with gas mask and bayonet!

The set – which was the stage of a suburban community hall – was most effective and, dare I say simple – in that there were no scene changes required.  All the action took place in the same “hall” – but there was a natural movement of time which was clearly portrayed in costume changes.  Costumes were excellent – along with wigs which really “suited” all those well-known and well-loved characters.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this extremely “wordy” piece.  Alison and Josh deserve medals for learning their script – I didn’t think any character would have had more lines to learn than Geraldine Granger in “The Vicar of Dibley” – so Alison, well done – you have smashed both parts!

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