Natural Causes

Natural Causes is a black comedy by Eric Chappell, a popular British television sitcom writer best known for Rising Damp. The play was preformed over a weekend, and we went on the Sunday evening which was a great idea as there was almost a full house. Director Anne Ponting has a great cast for this production.

The set is the lounge of a country house, it's very good, with lots of attention to detail. Complete with a rubber plant that starts to wilt as the play goes along from the poisoned drinks poured on it. Lighting and sound is just right.

This play deals with a distressing subject in a humorous way. Euthanasia, it's a great British farce and a very funny play follows.

Vincent played by Alan Ponting is super and just right for the part, he has great mannerisms and expressions, truly believable character, he is from Exodus, a euthanasia group that assists people in suicide. He has been asked to call at the home of Walter. 

Walter Bryce is played by Danny Lyons, he is great as the long suffering husband of a depressive wife Celia and has asked Vincent to help. Vincent carries around a lethal bottle of poison which he plans to add a drop to a glass of sherry. There is a large decanter with several glasses that is used throughout the play.

Celia is played by Andrea Cutler, she too is a believable character, being hopeless, depressed and unhappy in her life, she is also very elegant but is stuck in a rut and can't get out, however, she brightens up when she thinks her husband will die with her.

There is almost a moment of mistaken identity with Vincent thinking he's talking to Celia, and it turns out to be Angie played by Sophie Hills, Walter's attractive secretary. There's more to her and Walter as we find out, they want to be together.

Lastly Lara Jones plays the well-meaning, bumbling Samaritan, called Withers. She's heard all about Vincent and tries to help and warn Walter to get Celia to rethink.

Vincent starts to think something is wrong, and there are lots of things happening along the way. There is a great twist at the end. This truly was an excellent play. Well done everyone. 

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