Perfect Wedding

Petuaria Players, “Perfect Wedding” 17/05/24

Bill and Rachel are preparing for their wedding at a country hotel.  Tom, their best man, has organised the stag night at the same hotel on the night before the wedding! Of course, things begin to go wrong from the moment the curtain rises and it looks like it will be far from the “Perfect Wedding”.

The Oxford dictionary describes ‘farce’ as based on ‘ludicrously improbable situations’. Well, here we have plenty of those, wonderfully handled by a very capable cast and an imaginative Director. Richard Bateman, as Producer and Director, has assembled the cast who have brought every improbable element of the play, and the individual characters, together. The result is an entertaining and extremely funny play.

Bill, the groom (played by Rob Newton) wakes up with a hangover and finds a strange woman in his bed. He is to be married later that day and the bride is due to arrive soon. 

Rob Newton was excellent as Bill, the befuddled and much stressed groom.  He played the part with an air of “why is this happening to me?” and delivered the “how do I get out of this?” moment with great skill and panache.  He used pauses with great skill, using animation and gesture to maintain the characterisation.

Tom, the best man, is played by Steve Howland.  It is Tom who has organised the stag night and is due to be overseeing the reception.

Steve Howland played the role with confidence and with excellent comic timing (as do the whole cast).  His body language and facial expressions were a delight to see.  He managed to change from an organising best man to wronged partner and manic avenger with aplomb.

Judy, the woman in Bill’s bed, and who subsequently turned out to be Tom’s new girlfriend, was superbly played by Gill Collins.  Her characterisation was skilful and controlled.  Her timing and reactions were excellent.

Julie, the chambermaid, is an important character who becomes involved with the plot to conceal Tom’s girlfriend.  Barbara Fairley was given the task of playing Julie.  I think, and so did the audience, that she was well cast.  Her demeanour, expressions and timings were perfect.

Nic Johnson, did a first class portrayal of the wronged ‘bride to be’.  She showed the confidence and calmness of a woman who believes she is in control of the situation, only to discover that, because of everything that was happening, she was not.

Daphne, the mother of the bride, was delightfully played by Janet Drewery.  She was the stereotypical bride’s mum who wanted the ‘perfect wedding’ and she reacted to every comic moment with perfection.

Congratulations to Director, Richard Bateman for keeping the art of farcical comedy alive and achieving the most from a super cast.

Petuaria Stage Manager, and her set builders did a stupendous job of creating a simple set which included all the essential elements: 2 rooms, a bed, and doors. Sound, lights and props excelled and the front of house staff looked after us very well.  Thanks to Sally Marland, Dianne Turner (Prompt), Sue Crowston, Mark Nash, Richard Batemen and Steve Turner, and all the unnamed people who provided refreshments at the interval.

A huge congratulations to Petuaria Players for giving us a great night of hilarious entertainment.

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