Last of the Summer Wine

Roy Clarke wrote this play to feature the four main characters in his long running TV sitcom thus giving players of more mature years the opportunity to enjoy bringing them to life on stage. Starting with the quite low key efforts of Foggy making use of Clegg’s home to produce a supper party for Constance, a lady whose attention he wishes to encourage and her aunt Norah Batty, acting as the chaperon, the very civilized setting soon disintegrates into farce. With the arrival of the uninvited Compo and the panic induced by a ‘Flasher’ in the street outside being chased by Gifford, the very longtime fiancée of Constance, there is much opportunity for fun at all levels.

John Atkinson (Foggy) once again showed his ability to make the most of the character he is playing. Fortunately he was well served by Bob Curr (Clegg), pessimistic as always and Roger Hazelwood (Compo) whose costume must have made all female members of the audience look for the Persil!  - a very effective trio, appreciated by all watching. Valerie Mills (Norah) and Val Green (Constance) were suitably pleased or appalled by the ‘goings on’ and Charles Ibberson was the belligerent, horn blowing Gifford Bewmont. Lastly, but with the most difficult part physically, Bill Darwin (Flash) had to cover his modesty while suffering being wheeled in a barrow, hiding under a table and thrust through a dining hatch – well done!

The setting and costumes reflected the characters well and the laughter of the audience will have given the cast and the director great satisfaction. 

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