One Act Play Festival

This is the second year for this One Act Play Festival, increasing this year from three to six plays.  The organisation was again superb providing an excellent evening's entertainment and a chance for other groups to take part.  Each evening consisted of three different plays, one from each group, giving variety to the evening.  

AXMINSTER DRAMA CLUB

The Quiz  Written and Directed by Andy Coley, a member of Axminster Drama Club

This was a scene familiar to many of us.  A group of friends meeting for the regular quiz night.  A mixed bunch of people, presumably with strengths in different subjects!   The team members are mostly middle-aged but there is one young man whose evening is brightened by the arrival of the team captain's daughter.  She, though, replies to his attempts at conversations with monosyllables.  The married couple spend most of the evening bickering! Two members of the team are late in fact they never arrive.  In breaks from the quiz conversations are held on the phone between the captain and the two missing members with descriptions of the many misadventures that are preventing them from turning up.  This was amusing but a little protracted, it had the feeling of repeating itself.   The different characters had been well written,  and the actors portrayed them with understanding.  

Dead Spot Written and Directed by Simon Hurst, a member of Axminster Drama Club

A clever script with twists in the story that surprised us.  A man arrives for what appears to be a job interview, then another applicant arrives and her conversation begins to make him feel increasingly edgy and uncomfortable.  He responds by making inappropriate comments.  However it is not a job interview, he has reached his day of judgment and that is far from the end of the story.   A small cast of four actors took on these characters most skilfully.  A well written, very entertaining play.

AXMINSTER DRAMA CLUB YOUTH (SENIORS)

I believe in Angels Written by Tony Damille and Directed by Sara Leat

A group of friends are trying to come to terms with the death of their friend.  They meet for a seance at the graveyard.  This could so easily have become mawkish but it didn't.  The dialogue,  because of the occasion and situation was at times muted and once or twice it was just a little too quiet.  The characters were truthfully portrayed and the relationships between them played with understanding.  A charming story with very strong acting from this experienced cast of young people.

AXMINSTER DRAMA CLUB YOUTH (JUNIORS)

Big Bad and Little Red  Written by Raymond Blakesley and Directed by Sara Leat

This was an excellent choice for the junior group.  A play with fifteen named characters and all so very different.  It is a trial scene.  The Big Bad Wolf is accused of eating Granny.  Witnesses are questioned and a verdict is arrived at.  There is some audience involvement.  Characterisation was excellent as was the diction.  Every word could be heard so clearly, even from the judge who was seated upstage and from the little pigs whose faces were partly covered by masks.  The actors understood the character they were playing and its place in the story.  The different relationships were well demonstrated.  At all times they were fully involved with the trial and responding with facial expressions and movement.   The costumes were fun with two of the jurors bizarrely clad in odd socks and almost fairy outfits.  The granny was appropriately dressed and using a walking stick. Little Red, so unlike Red Riding Hood of the fairy tale, was a very sassy young lady wearing a mini skirt.   A confident performance from everyone and very entertaining to watch.

OTTERY COMMUNITY THEATRE

Clue Who?  Written and Directed by Kay Crook, a member of Ottery Community Theatre

This was a novel idea.  Inspiration for which had come from the board game of Cluedo.  Audience participation was required with the familiar slips and pencils being provided.  A family group of two children and a mother were at a table to one side of the stage.  The lad still wearing his anorak, like lads do,  had clearly been pressed into playing the game by the mother.  A very normal family scene.    As the players made their guess as to who, what and where, that scene was played by larger than life characters carrying their weapon of choice and with more than a touch of melodrama.  The acting was strong and the dialogue easily heard.  The costumes had been chosen so the audience would be in no doubt as to the occupation of the possible murderer.  The scenes depicting each scenario were well written and straightforward to follow.  What was more tricky to understand was what was required of the audience.  It would be interesting to see this again. Very enjoyable and worth taking this idea further.

Fairy Tale Ending  Written by Norma Palmer and Directed by Jill Machin, members of Ottery Community Theatre

A small cast for this and with much dialogue.  A husband and wife running a small hotel.  He has had an exciting past having worked in a grand establishment meeting the rich and famous.    The flamboyant waistcoat was a good touch but the shirt was not tucked in suggesting that standards had slipped a little.  The wife, not surprisingly,  shows jealousy about the famous people with whom he is still obsessed.  Suddenly Lady Helena, someone from this past life, comes into the hotel.  Beautifully dressed, nicely spoken, every inch a lady.  She urgently needs to have back a keepsake that she gave him in the past.  Also present is a young lady, an employee at the hotel.  

This was a good story.  Strangely believable, showing a clear understanding of human nature and behaviour.  The acting was strong with good characterisation and clear diction.  It took a little while to get to the central point of the story but shows much potential.   

 

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