Outside Edge

There is something rather charming about a village cricket pavilion.  It suggests afternoons of gentle sport played by relaxed friends in glorious sunshine.   But relaxed is the last word that comes to mind with Outside Edge.  The two main characters, Roger and Miriam are desperately trying to prepare for the game, with little apparent help.   Other members of the club come and go with various excuses for not having done their allotted tasks.  Roger continues to instruct his wife, and everyone else, without realising how bullying and uncaring his attitude is.  Miriam continues to prepare the cricket tea, commenting with increasing frequency on the unfairness of the situation.  The nine so different characters in this play had been well cast with some very good performances.  The quirks and idiosyncracies were well demonstrated and characters were maintained throughout.  The rather pronounced accents of some though were difficult to adjust to.  Accents are never an easy choice with a play.  They can sometimes make the dialogue difficult to follow and sometimes can overwhelm the perception of the character.  Better too little than too much.  Beware also of letting the voice drop, the audience is not comfortable when it has to struggle to hear the dialogue.  

The set, depicting the cricket pavilion was most attractive.  The various doors to the changing room,  kitchen and serving hatch were used to good purpose with Roger and Miriam in particular bustling from one to another.  The aisle of the auditorium was part of the cricket field with various actors racing up it towards the dreaded roller.   The way through to the car park was also often used.  There needed to be so much movement in this play and the planning/choreography of the director was impressive.  These many exits and entrances made by the actors always seemed "real" not at all contrived.  There was an absolute feeling of them coming and going to somewhere else not merely to the wings!  So important to have a reality that extends beyond the reach of the stage area, it brings truth to the play, as it did here.  The journey of the play was perhaps not as intense as it might have been.  Relationships were building and problems within them growing but a little more tension between the characters could have been apparent.

A lovely mix of ages, all appropriate to the character they were playing. So good to see the young "couple" played by two young people.  Not always easy for a drama group in East Devon.  Playing Miriam was an actor on just, I believe, her second time on stage.  A most impressive performance.  In the lighting box was a young actor, new to that job for this society.  He will appear in many plays, no doubt, but likes to learn more skills.  It is a sure sign of a good society that supports its younger members in this way.

The wardrobe department had planned well.  Cricket whites,  summer dresses,  the fur coat for Maggie and for Ginny more casual wear,  all were so appropriate for the characters and added interest to the production.

Sound effects were good with the sound of the crowd when runs were scored or a wicket fell being enough to bring a feel of the game without overwhelming the dialogue.

This group has a good following of supporters who have come to expect an enjoyable evening at the theatre. On the evening I was there the house was full.  Congratulations to you all on a first class evening's entertainment.

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