Quartet

This play by Ronald Harwood is set in a home for retired singers and musicians and has since been made into a film. There are just the four characters in the play hence the title but it also refers to the quartet from Rigoletto that will be sung as part of the home's annual concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday. The four all used to sing together in their younger years.

Gillian Pitt as the director has a very good cast for the play, the set is excellent and is the music room of the home. There is also a small terrace leading to the garden. The set builders for New Forest Players always pay great attention to detail. The costumes are also very good.

Wilferd Bond is played by Paul de Burton. He plays the likable rouge with an eye for the ladies. He has some great lines and plays the role very well with all his aches and pains when he sits down or tries to stand. He has had his eye on Cecily for years, there are some very funny moments when he is talking to her but she can’t hear what he is saying as she is listening to her music through head phones.
Kim Walker takes the role of Cecily Robson, whose character is starting to get forgetful she acts the part well. I’m not sure how she didn’t laugh when Wilferd was talking to her.

Alan Whitty plays Reginald Paget he is also very confident in his role. I liked the way he suddenly ‘saw’ a member of staff in the garden and would shout at them because they didn’t let him have his marmalade for breakfast and then carry on with his conversation.

Jane Sykes plays Jean Horton the diva who has been married several times including Reginald who is not pleased to see her at first. She has fallen on hard times and is now moving into the home. She is also very believable in her role.
They are all going to take part in the concert and decide to sing the Quartet that made them famous, they all spend the next few months miming to the music as they want their reputation to stay intact and say this is how we used to sound, the costumes are very good and the scene is a great way to finish this funny well liked play.

Well done to you all.

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