10th April 2025
Shrek – The Musical
Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society, Strode Theatre, Street, Somerset
Perfect Wedding
Author: Sue Pomeroy
Information
- Date
- 8th February 2019
- Society
- Portishead Players
- Venue
- Somerset Hall
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Rich Macpherson
I had been asked to prepare a full critique for this production, but as I explained to the director of the play following the performance, I was so impressed by the excellence of the piece; In a critique I would have nothing to comment on so I will just present a short report.
I managed to read the programme notes for the play began and was struck by the comment from the author Robin Hawdon.... he mentioned when writing 'farce' ... finding that ‘electric opening situation’ the initial dilemma, misunderstanding or moment of human error that will give the piece impetus for the following couple of hours is essential. Well he certainly got it right for ‘Perfect Wedding’ and the 6 members of Portishead Players did this wonderfully funny farce full justice.
From the moment the curtains opened on the wedding suit of a hotel, with ‘bodies’ in the rumpled bed with a pair of men’s legs sliding from under the duvet...... we were led a merry dance of convoluted events, with excellent timing and pace enough to have the whole audience engulfed in wave after wave of laughter.
This was one of the funniest plays I have seen and the honours must go to the director who had the vision and the experience to get the most from this very talented cast, and also to get the most from Robin Hawdons intelligent but also immensely funny writing. The play was perfectly cast with a dream team of performers, each important to the whole with no one scene stealing or a weak link.
Pace and timing when presenting farce is ‘everything’ and the pace achieved in the dialogue was perfect and quite awesome to watch and the timing of so many special moments of humour was astounding.
This was a glorious evening of misunderstandings, fun and frolic and I congratulate everyone.... From the set designers builders and painters, costume, lighting and sound and that crazy bunch of amateur performers who simply had the audience in the palm of their hands and we all loved it! The professional theatre would be envious of such a result!
Congratulations to all concerned.
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