Mary Mary and What’s for Pudding

I was delighted to attend MAOS Marlow’s evening of two short comedies, Mary Mary by Bruce Adams and What’s for Pudding by David Tristram, performed at Hughenden Gardens Village. I’ll admit, I arrived slightly apprehensive. Reviewing two short plays in one sitting can sometimes feel a bit like trying to judge a full meal from a couple of small bites. Would there be enough time to really connect with the characters?

As it turns out, there absolutely was. The studio-style setting worked beautifully for the format, creating an intimate, relaxed atmosphere that suited both pieces perfectly. The audience, particularly at the residents’ performance I attended, were fully engaged throughout. There’s something rather special about hearing laughter ripple across a room in such close quarters, and both plays delivered that in abundance.

Both productions made strong use of simple, well-considered set design. The attention to detail was particularly pleasing, from framed pictures to carefully placed props and bottles that helped ground each scene. A small note, though: where alcohol featured so prominently, using the correct bottles for the specific drinks and avoiding clear liquids where possible would enhance the realism further. That said, I do appreciate the practical constraints of the venue.

What struck me most across the evening was the commitment from the entire cast. These are short pieces, and yet every performer threw themselves fully into their roles. If anything, I found myself wishing What’s for Pudding had been longer, simply because I was enjoying the characters so much and wanted to spend more time with them.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.