Neighbourhood Watch

Alan Ayckbourn’s play, ‘Neighbourhood Watch’, his 75th in fact, follows Hilda and Martin, Christian siblings, who try to turn peaceful Bluebell Hill into a fortress on the very day of their housewarming party, and cause a total breakdown of law and order at Bluebell Hill.

Leading the well chosen cast, by Director Ulli Lukas, are practicing pacifist Martin (Darren Thomas) and his prudish sister (Wendy Wilson) who decide to set up a neighbourhood watch, encouraged by foul mouthed ex-security man Rod (Peter Stevens), Stupid and drippy Gareth (Martin Beaman), angry over his wife Amy’s (Maxine Ledger) current affair, and town gossip Dorothy (Caroline Newman) lend additional support. Martin clashes with Luther, (Ben Talbot) his thuggish neighbour, Hilda manages to befriend Luther’s wife Magda (Alison Powell) by getting an admission from her that her husband beats her. Time goes by Martin with many committees which he presides over Bluebell Hill gets various ideas, such as an 8ft high link fence, issue residents with identity cards and  ‘supplementary light’ at night.There’s even a set of stocks, to be erected on the roundabout by drippy Gareth, which provides one of the play’s better comedy moments.Ayckbourne’s script’s moves awkwardly sometimes between farce and emotional drama such as in Magda’s abuse, played effectively by Alison Newman, and the portrayal of foul mouthed Amy, good portrayal, but needed more projection, she loses out to Hilda, who is rewarded a lesbian kiss, with the damaged Magda.

This Neighbourhood Watch, directed expertly by Ulli Lukas, shows what a small group can achieve, with a very solid Set designed by Stewart Currie, Steve Lukas, and Ulli Lukas, Jesse Cooper, Andrew Robinson, Kirsty Hintze and Jem Ledger excellently executed lighting and sound effects to a high standard.

This was an entertaining evening, the cast of 8 worked well as a team, a few dropped lines, but perhaps it was only me that noticed them. I’m always greeted and treated well by Edenbridge Players, their Programme was very informative and worthy to be entered in the NODA programme competition.

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