Outside Edge

This wonderfully satirical play presents quite a challenge because the timing, particularly in act two with the game in progress whilst conversations are going on in the pavillion, has to be spot on.

The players achieved this under the direction of Rosalyn Young. It was a very good production and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Your set was nicely designed, the low wall divided the interior from the exterior of the pavilion without masking any of the action, and the properties were good. Neale Winter dealt so well with the clock refusing to fix back on the wall that it was impossible to know whether or not it was part of the script. He was very good in the role of Roger whose raison d’etre appeared to be the game of cricket and the fortunes of his team. He could barely listen to the others he was so focussed on the task in hand and took his position within the team very seriously. Neale gave an excellent performance.

His poor long suffering and humble wife Miriam was played well by Maggie Rolfe, although on occasion it was a little difficult to hear what she said. In that type of role it’s more difficult to speak out confidently - she put across her subservience convincingly – but a little more projection would have helped.

Mike was super as Denis, one of the best roles I’ve seen him take, and he took to womanising rather well! As Bob, Anthony Doggwiler made the most of this rather less likeable character and I felt that he grew in the part as the play progressed.

A first rate performance was from Laura Allen in the role of Maggie. She projects her voice magnificently and her Cockney accent was good. She smothered Kevin with affection/protection and was utterly besotted with her young husband. Luke Pulfer was most appealing in that role and succumbed to her mothering (smothering?) trait mostly willingly. I’ve seen him take on many different characters over the years and he’s done them all well but this particular role seemed to be made for him.

As Ginnie, Affie Harris gave a confident performance. She was utterly disinterested in the game of cricket and treated her husband with disdain.

It appeared that the lawyer Alex had little concern for anything other than his car - his girlfriend was superfluous to requirements. Oliver Frost played the role of the self-centred man with style, and as his girlfriend Sharon who was painfully awkward with the rest of the group, Rachel Barnes was great. Her efforts to get to the loo were really funny and her body language at that point left no doubt as to her dilemma!

The play was very well directed. The second act saw the cast engaged in a multitude of tasks; clearing up, watching the game, cuddling etc; and it all worked brilliantly. The shouts from those watching the game interspersed with conversations within the pavilion were all beautifully timed. There was plenty of business on stage and it was a play that would keep the audience occupied no matter how many times they saw it.

Appropriate music at the start and touches like the newspaper depicting headlines concerning Margaret Thatcher all added to the authentic feel of the play.

Costumes were suitable for the era.

Emotions on the day involved not only supporting their home team but perhaps even more importantly what was going on in the lives of people who, at least on the surface, appeared to have a common interest. This insight into their individual relationships and the inherent problems was a familiar and sometimes rather sad reflection of what goes on under the surface in most people’s lives. At the same time it was also full of humour and made for a most entertaining night out.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.