Office Suite

A tricky task for any company to perform 2 short but linked plays with a small cast. This was a well-produced and performed suite. Well done to all involved!

Green Forms was the title of the first play. Its two main characters were lady office workers as they go about a typical working day. Doris was played by Susan Murphy. I was immediately impressed by Susan’s portrayal of a middle aged spinster. Timing, accent and facial expression were all top notch. Her performance was matched by Kim Brymer who played Doreen. In Doreen’s character we saw a young married woman who was the junior. Kim handled the character with skill showing a silly side while reacting to the situation as it developed. Coming into the office we meet two mail men. Boswell (George Doherty) the silent one and Mr Lomax (David Cheape). David created the typical union man with ease. His dissertation on the advantages of being a union member was slick and polished.

A Visit from Miss Prothero was a follow up (or was that down) from the first play but with different characters. In this play we had a double hander. Two characters sharing the dialogue. George Doherty played Mr Dodsworth a widowed recently retired middle manager. George gave us a great performance of a man who thinks he is coping and trying to build a new life but who is still a lonely old man. His final scene was very touching. Well done. Miss Prothero was played by Kim Brymer. She showed her acting talent in the way she created two totally different characters in this performance. Miss Prothero was the opposite of Doreen but both were believable. The subtle change in Miss Prothero as the action moved on was very cleverly done. All on stage were sharp with dialogue and the action progressed at a good pace.

Well done to David for producing this suite and giving it the humour, intensity and pathos that grabbed the audience and held it fast.

Special mention to the backstage crew. Loved the set and the props. The clever change between the two plays was slick. Costumes spot on and sound and lighting excellent. Thank you for the invitation. As always a high standard in all areas.

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