Nobody's Perfect

Under the commendable direction of Nicola Dolphin-Brown, the cast of five delivered a play that presented humorous moments, interesting characters and a plot that featured all the complications when the key character of Leonard Loftus opted for deception.

Early in Act 1 we meet Leonard’s publisher, the attractive Harriet Copeland, confidently played by Helen Stott, whose phone calls from her desk on stage reveal her to be dejected where men are concerned, because she has had her heart broken many times. Helen’s portrayal was suitably sophisticated; her voice honeyed. She was often perplexed when she faced growing confusion about the identity of the winner of the competition, but her character’s approach was consistently calm, cool and unruffled. In the opening scene of the play the character of Dee Dee Loftus enters. Whilst this role was adopted by Charlotte Askew, who was not convincing as a teenager as intended by the author, characterised this role of a rebellious daughter very successfully ,using body language, facial expressions and voice tone that suggested sarcasm and detachment of interest in the serious side of life. Charlotte presented her part well and as the play developed, we learn she was also at times calculating and a tease.

Rod Bissett played the very demanding, and often energetic, role of Leonard Loftus, exceptionally well, and was active on stage for the duration of the play. We see his character emerge from being a boring statistician, where he was suitably a ditherer, a man of some insignificance with a low profile  to become a man who disguised himself as an older woman to further his writing career. Leonard had struggled to get his romance novel published while trying to keep tabs on his wayward daughter, Dee Dee and live-in father, Gus Loftus. After his manuscript was rejected yet again, he spiced it up and resubmitted it as if he was female. When he hears his manuscript has won a prize from the publisher of, “Love is All Around,” he hears his prize can only be awarded in person to a female. To avoid forfeiting the prize Leonard invents the female identity of fictitious Aunt Myrtle (Myrtle Banbury). This ensured Act 2 became more absorbing for the audience, giving more pace and reasons to chuckle. Rod was able to transform his character from a bumbling man to a man dressed as a woman in a dress with spirit, using raised voice tones and creating frenzied moments that brought laughter.

Roger Shepherd was delightful as the affable character of Gus, Leonard’s rascally father with whom he also shared his home, having been excluded from his retirement home. Roger injected the right sense of fun and charm into his role with great success and delivered the role as the amusing, ‘Life of the party.’ The strong rapport between Gus and Dee Dee seemed so natural ,and when they rehearsed together as a duet for a karaoke night  they looked at ease dancing and singing harmoniously to, “You make me feel so young.” As they left the house the exchanges between them demonstrated their shared sense of fun and playful outlook on life.

The set design, credited to Stephen Ralph, was well constructed and worthy of praise, for it ensured the audience could engage with the action in Harriet Copeland’s office at the side of the stage; the stylish interior of Leonard’s flat and the front porch without interruption of the story line and also giving it dimension. This was well supported by effective lighting and the sound arrangements, which were well timed. Props were mostly in keeping but the champagne glasses were inappropriately and seemimgly plastic. Costumes were considered thoughtfully and suited the characters.  Harriet wore her coat in one scene, which under the circumstances of intending to stay for a celebration in Leonard’s flat, seemed unnecessary.

This wasn’t a laugh a minute comedy, but it did serve up some chuckles from the audience and had pace, particularly so in Act 2. This was a play that was well cast and the outcome of a great deal of team spirit and hard work from the cast and crew.

Well done to all, for it is worthy of a larger audience than was present on this evening performance.

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