Natural Causes

Having attended a production at the Attfield Theatre a few months ago I was delighted to be invited again as Regional Councillor for their first production of the 2024-25 season.

The welcome at Attfield Theatre is always warm and friendly. This is not something just for NODA as each and every member of the audience are afforded this. After a drink downstairs we all made our way upstairs to the auditorium. Hopefully the audience noticed a new display on route – this comprised of NODA certificates of nominations and winning performances since Attfield joined the NODA family.

Natural Causes ‘a black comedy’ by Eric Chapple who is best known for television sit coms including Rising Damp, Only When I Laugh and Duty Free. The play in two acts follows a visit to the Bryce house by Vincent who as Exodus has a poison to assist in a person’s suicide. Therefore this play, which first opened at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, on 20th October 1992, is not an obvious setting for a comedy.  

On the tabs opening, the set was revealed and this was of very good quality. A comfortable drawing room come study/ library. Book shelves upstage with a functional set of double doors to the garden, a fire place with clock and photos. The flats were well decorated and the furniture was fitting and coordinated. The rubber plant down stage left was to be an integral part of the plot. My only observation was as there was no perspex in the window there were times when actors’ hands went through – this is minor criticism as the set designer and building team need to be congratulated.

The small cast of five carried the play well. It had pace and lines were well delivered. Characterisations were good and believable and the comic timing worked.

Walter (married to Ceila) was naturally played by Nick Chesters as he tried to encourage the suicide of his wife with a degree of panic when it appeared to all go wrong.

Vincent played by Tony Holtham (the professional visitor) was a delight to watch with continual references to leaving school at 14 and the desire to get to his next appointment (if only the allocated person at this one would take the poison).

Angie (Walter’s scheming secretary) was played with relish by Em-J Brazier. Clearly after her man, as well as that Caribbean holiday!

Ceila, the wife was in the capable hands of Fiona Ashby. Fiona was wonderful in the part as the depressed housewife. Fiona played the part with conviction as she tried to convince her husband to also take the poison.

Finally Withers as the out of his depth person from The Samaritans was well played by Jake Baker as he reluctantly got pulled into the plot.

Well done to all five of you.

I made mention to a rubber plant, congratulations to Nigel Clark for this prop. The plant in act 1 was ingenious with leaves falling off due to the poison poured onto it. The plant in act 2 most certainly looked unwell!

The direction and positioning on stage was good. The choreography of the sherry glasses worked. The conclusion of the play and the location of the poison was a bit predicable but that was the joy of the piece. 

In conclusion another success from Attfield Theatre. I for one look forward to future productions from this talented group. Next time its Treasure Island in December and then next year Veronica’s Room and Bedside Manners.

Andy Brown

Regional Councillor NODA West Midlands

 

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