Ladies in Lavender

RaTs thank you for choosing ‘Ladies in Lavender’. This charming, gentle comedy, with delightful performances on a splendid looking set (Phill Willing). Getting 4 rooms onto the Oast Theatre stage, I would have thought was impossible, but Phill and his crew succeeded, just so perfect.

A simple story with comedy and drama entwinned. The play is set in the 1930s, after the First World War there remains some distrust of the Germans, especially with a certain Mr Hitler. The sisters, Janet (Linda Brown) and Ursula (Jan Wyatt) have little in their lives and therefore the discovery of a young man, Andrea Marowski (Dan Harbour) on the beach following a very strong storm, is a wonderful diversion in their humdrum lives.They establish that Andrea is actually Polish and they nurse him back and teach him English as he recovers from a nasty injury to his leg. They discover that Andrea is a violinist, but when the opportunity arises to further his opportunities of his career comes from a meeting with Olgar Danilof (Jill Balderston). The sisters are understandably reluctant to let go of their dear boy who has brought some meaning to their lives.

This part in the play touches the darker side of humanity. The local doctor Dr Mead (Neil Balderston) has loaned Andrea his violin and wants it back, when his gets jealous as he sees the young man talking with Olga, who he is trying to date.There is a nice happy ending, as Andrea’s talent is discovered in America and he leaves Cornwall to big fame and fortune, but he never forgets his Ladies in Lavender, who wallow in his success in the comfort of their cottage, listening to his concerts on their precious radio and gramophone.

With a cast of six, the direction by Mark Kitchener was foremost in this ‘Ladies in Lavender’ taking all his cast and bringing out wonderful characterizations, using the wonderful set to its fullest. Ursula’s vulnerability and Janet’s stability came through. Andrea and Olga’s accents were spot on, especially Olga’s - very believable indeed. Frances Hinde as Doras was my star of the show, her comedy timing was impeccable and Doctor Mead's naivety in love matters shone through. This ‘Ladies in Lavender‘ was a joy to watch, it’s a pity that the auditorium wasn’t fuller it deserves full houses. Set, sound, props, lighting, and costumes, all adding to stupendous direction by Mark’s direction of Ladies in Lavender. I wouldn’t have missed if for the world, and I nearly did……

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