Quizzers

Sidbury Into Drama

By arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts

Quizzers

A farce by Geoff Bamber

Directed by Maggie Knights & Emma Murdoch

Sidbury Village Hall

Friday 18th October 2024

‘Tricia Barclay

NODA Representative District 6

Receiving a very warm welcome for the first visit to this recently joined society it was immediately clear that this was a very friendly and well supported group.

The curtains opened on to a very messy set depicting  an “office” in the home of Keith and Lorna Smedley. 

The relationship between the two was quickly established and It was evident from the bickering and sniping between them that they were poles apart interests wise! Theirs was very much a rocky relationship!

Having just waved goodbye to one daughter and grandchildren – an effective car sound effect by the way - Keith was looking forward to some quiet space to  prepare for the pub quiz that evening. Quizzing was obviously the mainstay of his existence, and he was very much in that “zone”.

Meanwhile Lorna was planning to set up in business with her rather “geeky” friend Binny, supposedly an interior designer of renown.

Into this mix comes Keith’s best friend Ross, daughter Alison with boyfriend Nick, his mother Stella and finally an ex-con called Rat, who was deemed to have “specialist skills”.

To say that confusion and misunderstandings ensued is an understatement!

Womanising Ross and slightly “batty” Binny hit it off from their first encounter and some smouldering scenes certainly followed!  Add this to the revelation that Keith and Stella had had a “connection” before his marriage fuel was certainly added to the fire and the action heated up all round.

Stella being in the throes of divorcing yet another husband  “twists” Keith’s arm, as a retired solicitor, into acting for her. However, when Rat arrives ostensibly to make up  numbers for the quiz team wires got very crossed indeed and Stella is left with  the  impression that she has hired a “hit man”.

The writer admits to an interest in pub quizzes and a certain obsession with useless information together with the theatrical influences of Brian Rix farces which goes a long way to explain the theme and action within this piece.

Typical of farce there was certainly a lot of comings and goings through the SR and SL doors and characters caught out  with their  “proverbial” trousers down!

The set was very well representative of a “messy” room, stuffed with books, files and furniture and the cast did well to manoeuvre themselves around, in a relatively small space.

All the characters were well portrayed and costumed, or in Binny’s case “sheeted” at times, for their roles.

Keith was ponderous and pedantic  in “quiz zone” at all times and was perfectly partnered by a frustrated and short-tempered Linda. 

Daughter Alison was stoic throughout  and having been brought up on a diet of “quizzing” was completely unfazed by the antics in the house, while “statistical wizard” Nick  quickly immersed himself in Keith’s extensive records and predicting what was likely to come up next! With lovely reactions, particularly his expressive eyes he brought  an endearing naivety to the piece.

Binny had a connection with the audience from the start and her over the top antics gained a “round” every time. Perhaps a local favourite?

Ross was the epitome of a “womanising” bachelor, he simply oozed with passion and his expressions said it all!

Stella was a revelation and delightfully played. Clearly on the hunt for husband No 4 in her tight leather skirt, leopard skin top  and a tantalising hint of stockings and suspenders - perfect for the character.

Coming towards the end of the action Rat was somewhat of an enigma, obviously a “gentleman” with a disreputable  past and a variety of skills  -  car mechanic, arsonist or “hit man” this was left open to interpretation.

There were certainly some memorable moments in this production. Binny’s confusion with Guatemala and Guacamole, reference to happenings  on the kitchen table, Rat’s sweatshirt being the property of HM Prison Service, and the antics with the cupboard DSR.

The prompt assisted a few times but was very much part of the fun. There was a lovely moment DSR when Stella asked for a line while making a call on her mobile phone – great stuff!

There was a lot of  paraphernalia draped around the set and on the floor. In normal circumstances  the natural reaction would be to pick up or replace things that perhaps got in the way or had fallen down, for example when the antimacassar fell from the back of the sofa. Binny did this well at one point kicking a folder aside with her foot, completely in character. 

Also, instead of bringing the tabs in every time at the end of a scene perhaps think about  lowering the lighting with a few bars of music as there didn’t seem to be any changes made on set. This could also help with pace which dipped slightly on occasion.

It was certainly a relief  to discover who scored the second goal in the 1966 World Cup in the end, especially for Keith! 

A very funny, enjoyable and warmly received production - well done!

 

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