Rosedale Hall

Exmouth Players

ROSEDALE HALL

As seen by Matthew Heaton, NODA SW Regional Councillor on Thursday 28th August 2025

Director: Wendy Groves

Written by:  Zoe Hudson-Young

The Blackmore Theatre, Exmouth

 

Rosedale Hall is a new comedy, written by first-time playwright Zoe Hudson-Young, a previous member of the Society, now living in America. Set in the relaxation lounge of the luxurious Rosedale Hall Spa, the play combines Zoe’s Theatrical Training with her knowledge of the Health and Wellness industry, having been worked in Spas in both the UK and Bermuda.

Set present-day and in a single afternoon, the show starts one year on from Sandra’s divorce, where long-time friends Mary and Betty think a relaxing ‘Girls’ trip to a prestigious health retreat (2 hours from anywhere) would offer the perfect antidote to her dissatisfaction with her situation and life in general. Little could they know that a simple act of courtesy would lead to a less than relaxing experience!

This was my first time to the Blackmore Theatre and what a wonderful venue it is! The auditorium, holding around 100 seats is a delight, on a slight rake with a suitable floor-based staging area.  The fixed-set design filled the performing floor space really well. The main stage area was well set-up as the relaxation lounge itself, with angled flats across the rear of the stage to create two access doors to treatment rooms and a hidden main room entry point USL. The quality of the staging was quite excellent, from the hint of green walls with candles and selective foliage, to the 5 white loungers, drawer units, rear serving table and mats and rugs for the floor. My only real note was the architrave for the wall recesses was painted on (very well I might add) and whether you could have just used some architrave itself. A very minor point and either way it set the scene very well and looked suitably expensive as a venue! The properties supported this really well too, from the pink towels to the flowers, bottles and drinks glasses. Really great attention to detail was paid here and is a very cohesive way. Great work all involved.

The lighting was very effective in creating a bright, clinical environment. The coverage was excellent in terms of evenness and without dead-spots – really well-done. The individual spots for each character’s thoughts were a really nice touch, though it probably needed to have lit each of the character’s faces sequentially, to enhance the effect and make more of the ‘Miss Jones having no thoughts’ gag. There may also have been the opportunity to dramatize the key scenes of farce (mainly when trying to move or hide Miss Jones’s body) a little more with some more changes to the lighting to enhance the effect, but this may not have been the effect you were looking to create. Overall, lovely work here.

Sound was excellent – perhaps odd to say without any obvious amplification but you didn’t need it as all the cast’s excellent projection meant every word could be heard without it. Some great sound-effects too - with Betty’s farts a real comedic highlight. Background music was well-used and at the right volume – I loved the “Hotel California” and “Push-It” references in particular.

The costumes were well put-together. from the white fluffy robes complete with ‘Rosedale Hall’ logos and matching eye-masks to the white clinical uniforms of the employees. This really helped to enhance further the overall effect and sense of realism. Make-up was used appropriately too. Well done.

Direction. I don’t know how you managed this as well as playing Miss Jones too (though I’m aware this was not by choice) so really well-done here. There was a nice pace to what you set and the characterisations and interactions were all completely believable. The scenes set on the floor were a little difficult to see at times through the audience members in rows in-front, due to the gentler angle of the rake of the seating. This said, there was not too much set like this so it is a very minor point, but maybe something to consider going forward.

In terms of the writing, this isn’t something we’re normally in a position to comment on, but in this situation as a premier of a play we have been requested to do so. As with any new comedy you are always hopeful that you will find it funny - and this play was laugh-out loud funny. It certainly passed the Kermode and Mayo ”6 laughs-test” with flying colours, using a combination of slapstick, farce, wit and visual gags. It was a very successful combination and though Betty probably got the very best-lines, everyone had their chance to shine – even the straight characters. This was no easy feat at all – so very well done. Pacing was generally very good. It did slow a little with some of the character reveals just before the end of Act 1 which may be something to consider, though it did pick up again for a suitable cliff-hanger before the Interval. Act 2’s pace was good throughout. There were a couple of lines that the audience saw coming to review, but overall this was a very impressive piece of work that held all of the audience’s attention throughout, with a satisfying ending that left everyone smiling.

Looking at the principal performances:

• Sandra. As the recent divorcee and main focus of the trip to Rosedale Hall, you played the anger and frustration in this character really convincingly, using it for both dramatic and comedic effect. This worked extremely well and contrasted with the characters of May and Betty. A really good performance.
• Mary. The most thoughtful and considered of the three friends, you put together a very believable back-story of lost love for the character, with both comedy and pathos. I understand that you stepped into this role at very short-notice, so the greatest compliment may be to say that this was not evident at all. Very well done.
• Betty. This was a perfect part for you as the main comedic driver in the production. Your incredible comic-timing, with both verbal and with physical comedy (quite often slap-stick) was most impressive and bound the whole production together. You made a very convincing drunk too, which is a very difficult acting skill to master, Really great work!

There was a terrific chemistry and warmth between these three lead characters and their roles complimented each other – a strength of your collective acting and also to some very well-written characterisations.

For the other characters:

• Miss Jones.. Though Miss Jones does not speak, your non-verbal performance really put the character across. I have no idea how you were able to keep a straight-face here, particularly as you were slid off the lounger!  Another stand-in role and as Director too, this was another exceptional effort.
• Katarina O’Toole. You played the Celebrity on a retreat ever so well. You created a believable and complex character through your voice and mannerisms, with a spikey but vulnerable personality. Very well done - this was as it was no easy feat.
• Charlotte. Another difficult role as the ‘straight’ character to everyone else’s comedy, you were excellent as the spa employee and kept it going really well. We’d never have known this was your first role as you looked so at ease – very well done.
• Milo. What a great fun part as the Spa’s instructor / masseur. Some lovely visual and verbal moments as you slowly lose control of proceedings as they completely unravel as events progress. I did love the various ‘namastes’ as an embodiment of this. Lovely work.
• Sebastian. Nice cameo at the end as Mary’s long-lost love!

In summary, this was an excellent and high-quality evening’s entertainment at the Blackmore Theatre. The play was performed extremely well, with a strong cast, good direction and an impressive set, costumes, props, lighting and sound to enhance the production. In addition, this was a fresh and very funny script which suited the Society well and allowed them to showcase a very well-written play, which I am sure other groups would be interested in performing. Very well done all. I wish you all the very best with your future productions.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be effected by that knowledge.

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance viewed.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances, and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre.

It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

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