Ray Cooney's It Runs in the Family

Family Gales, Bassetts and Berwicks held the F of H and Bar positions and as usual, I received a warm welcome. From the outset I was informed that ‘I would ..... myself’ with laughter. A great choice of comedy to kick off the Society’s 50th Anniversary year! Chairman Kate having just got over direction of her first pantomime took on the role for her play debut direction, plus opening the proceedings with her housekeeping complete in nurses’ uniform plus designing the set too! Naomi Berwick produced a bright cartoon style front cover for the A5 programme containing all, with media and publicity covered by Beth Pritchard’s work and Clive Moore responsible for advertising.

Fast and furious with plenty of strategic doors to use, this certainly was the case. The scene is the Doctors’ Common Room of the St Andrews Hospital three days before Christmas. A carpeted floor, an angled desk, an excellent central window which was used for a wonderful ledge hanging sequence, various pieces of furniture, a mirror, a cabinet with drinks and a rather well used soda syphon. Doubling as a step down from the window, a costume box with Christmas panto props that came in very handy. There was a wall telephone, notice board and illuminated Christmas Tree, with a coat stand and chair downstage. There was enough space for beautifully choreographed wheelchair pushing! Along the front of the stage was strung with tinsel and Christmas cards giving a festive feel.

Smartly dressed self-important Dr David Mortimore, impeccably played by Paul Desrosiers, is rehearsing the prestigious Ponsonby Lecture to take place later in the day in front of 200 neurologists, to be introduced by Sir Willoughby Drake, Al Richardson showing frustration rather well. A variety of interruptions occur including his wife Rosemary, well characterised by Jackie Manktelow, who is thoroughly confused, and a most concerning appearance of ex-nurse Jane Tate, performed by Pippa Shepherd, she of the dalliance in the sluice some years past.  It seems a child was born, a wild punk child hell bent on finding her Daddy is in reception waiting to be arrested! Bridget Newick with her blue hairdo expressed a convincing stubborn teen. What to do? Call for colleague Dr Hubert Bonney energetically played by Dan Putman. Needless to say further complications and confusions arise, comings and goings become erratic, there are name problems, a wheelchair-bound somewhat crazy patient on the loose, Matron gets the hypodermic needle in error. All the while Sir Willoughby is impatiently waiting to introduce Mortimore and Nick Jeal in his element as Dr Mike Connolly, is trying to get the Boxing Day Panto up and running. Trevor Pritchard performed his police duties particularly well and enjoyed the mayhem as the Police Sergeant. My favourite character must be Bill Leslie clad in his jimjams and master of the wheelchair – Clive Moores really enjoyed giving the soda syphon a good airing! Good to see Heather Woodward as a delightful Mrs Bonney mother of Hubert, albeit a small cameo role.

Characters were well dressed, together with good uniforms by courtesy of Naomi and cast members, finishing touches of make-up adding character - especially to the men! – from Eve Pashley. Further plot detail is impossible but suffice to say the actors all did a grand job despite the few prompts from hidden stalwart on the ball Sheila Gault. Together with the backstage team and Ray Hodges in his tech box who soon overcame a blip in the electricals.

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