Past Imperfect

This was a new play, written and directed by group member Barbara Hardwick. It’s a difficult play to categorise as it made us laugh, gasp, question and tear up at different points throughout the evening.

There were some heavy subjects put under the spotlight such as domestic abuse, rape, loss and death but we still managed to laugh. Some moments would have benefitted from more ranges of emotion being shown but the audience felt anger, sadness and joy and as for the bombshell at the end of Act One…

There were some funny one liners and I will never think of my clematis or an Aquascutum bag in the same way.

It was a good choice for a group with older members who are still willing and able to be on the stage.

 

The first characters we met were Yvonne and Tony, two company admin office stalwarts played by Rosemary Townsend and Gerald Staines. There was real warmth between the pair as they contemplated how their careers and lives were going to change but their dialogue was too slow at times.

Rosemary played Yvonne as caring, motherly, a bit lonely, and too trusting. Tony had obviously been a bit of lad in his younger days! Gerald depicted him as a cake lover, horse fancier, work avoider but a proud family man and a good friend to Yvonne.

Deborah, Debs but never Debbie, was confidently played by Jan Holton. She had an easy performing style and her sadness was very believable but I wanted her to be angrier when telling her shocking story.

Michael Howard was Matthew, ready with a quick quip as a young office boy but trying to conceal deep grief and disappointment as an older married man.

Heather Howard portrayed the final character, Angelica. I understand that Heather joined the cast in the last few weeks to give her performance as a woman trying to move on from an abusive marriage.

 

The curtains opened to an office, put firmly into the 80s by enormous screens for the computers, over large desks and a 1984 calendar on the wall. More props to take us from 1984 to 2014 would have enhanced the overall look but the swivel chair and laptops helped. Deborah’s flat was comfortable and the use of the blind to suggest the window was clever. It was also good to see real liquid being poured and drunk. It was another good idea to use characters to bring the park bench on. There were a few bumps and bangs and moving of the curtain as the big change happened though.

 

I didn’t like Matthew’s wig in the opening scene, I understand that he needed one but a less distracting one would have been better. Other than that the costumes were all appropriate and changes kept simple, hanging hair styles worked well for the ladies.

There was no need for fancy lighting effects and the sound effects added to the park scenes.

 

Thank you for another enjoyable evening. This was a difficult play to pull off but you did a good job!

Helen Wilson on behalf of Victoria Carey

 

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