Last Tango in Staithes

Staithes Amateur Dramatic Society – SADS – is facing eviction from their rehearsal venue, have no money, no audiences and worst of all, no talent!  But that isn’t going to stop the Chairman from having one last go at saving the Society.  He has written not only a play, but also a Pantomime, both based on the premise that “sex sells” and that the promise of nudity will have the audiences flocking in… By combining two One Act plays in to a Two Act Play, the action unfolds as Chairman Gordon reveals his plans to his three fellow society members and they go into rehearsal for these two shows. The characters of this AMDRAM group are familiar to all of us involved in amateur theatre, the over critical director, the diva, the tuneless hopeful and the terse techie, and all wonderfully caricatured by the four strong cast gathered here. Marcus Burnside as Chairman, Playwright and Director, Gordon, showed his comic timing through moments of both exasperation and over enthusiasm.  He steered the pace of the production, working well alongside all of his colleagues on stage.  Katrina Stead as “leading lady” Margaret brought humour throughout her performance, particularly with the over-emphasised physical theatre elements. John Eaves as the cantankerous set builder, lighting technician and stage manager delivered his one-liners to perfection.  And Karen McKarthy as the mild mannered, never-holds-a-grudge (yeah right!) Treasurer, Secretary and Musical Theatre enthusiast Joyce, owned the role, never failing to deliver at the critical moment. With plenty of local references to heighten the humour, the audience were carried along in this raucous comedy drama with laughs-a-plenty.  Many congratulations on another successful production. 

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