Separate Tables

Separate Tables

Exmouth Players

By Terence Rattigan
Directed by Clare Philbrock

The Blackmore Theatre, Exmouth

Tuesday 25th June 2019

‘Tricia Barclay

NODA SW Representative District 6

The Players certainly transported audiences back to an era of nostalgia with this production, set in the genteel confines of the Hotel Beauregard in the seaside resort of Bournemouth in the 1950s. Written as two one-act plays, Table by the Window focuses on the troubled relationship between a disgraced Labour politician and his ex-wife, while Table No 7 highlights the touching friendship between a repressed spinster and a retired Army Officer. These two main roles were originally intended to be played by the same actors but in this production the parts were shared. The hotel is home to a mixture of elderly, lonely and indigent “regular” residents whose varied and straightened circumstances have thrust them together, and the Players brought the characters to life as they passed the time of day across their separate tables in the dinning-room, and shared small-talk in the adjoining lounge, accompanied at times by the occasional “outsider”. While the manageress does her utmost to maintain an air of respectability it becomes clear as the stories unfold, and the fears, foibles and past misdemeanours of some of her residents are exposed, that not everyone is what they claim to be. The supporting characters were well established from the start led by the matriarchal Mrs Railton-Bell giving a top-notch performance, completely in command of the proceedings and the stage like a ship in full sail, her expressions were priceless! Trailing in her wake was a wonderfully drab and mouse-like Lady Matheson, tentative and nervous of doing the wrong thing but managing to stand up for herself and finding the courage of her own convictions in the end.  Miss Cooper the manageress was crisp, professional and efficient, but showed compassion for her guests even at the cost of her own personal happiness. They were well complemented by the other “residents”. A dreamy Miss Meacham always ready with a hot racing tip, and Mr Fowler  the reticent retired schoolmaster, forever hopeful for a visit from one of his former pupils, both leaving the audience to speculate on the truth of their pasts.  The visiting “outsiders” were convincingly played, firstly as the young students on holiday, then returning two years later married with a baby, each with their own differing opinions on the actions and characters of the “regulars”. The two waitresses were very natural and their humorous observations brought an element of light relief to the action! In the first play the leading couple were effectively portrayed. Hiding out in the hotel and clandestinely working as a left-wing journalist, former MP John Malcolm showed glimpses of the angry young man he once was. Remaining true to his Northern roots and drinking too much he is conducting a tentative romance with the manageress when tracked down by his glamourous ex-wife Anne Shankland. Bedecked with jewels and dressed in an array of alluring attire Anne simply smouldered across the stage and poor John didn’t stand a chance as she bagged her prey and led him off into the sunset! In Table for 7 the role of Major Pollock was very convincingly played, covering his humble origins under a fabricated upper class public school and military background. After desperately but unsuccessfully trying to conceal his furtive behaviour in the cinema from his fellow residents he showed a dignified resignation to his fate, but later when bravely taking up his usual table in the dinning-room, was surprised to be acknowledged as they tacitly welcomed him back into the fold - apart from an outraged Mrs Railton Bell of course!  Dominated by her mother and always at her beck and call, Sybil brought out the gaucheness and frustration of the daughter and showed an attachment to the Major, but the age difference in this case felt rather too wide. This was a sensitively and skilfully directed production, with some deft touches, like the rain soaked John returning on a wet night. The characters were carefully choreographed from table to table and room to room as tensions heightened and secrets and innermost thoughts revealed. The set was cleverly designed, costumes, furniture and props appropriate for the period, with an impressive coach-built pram, and the dinning-room was very well-dressed with crisp tablecloths, silver napkin rings and a splendid view of the Bournemouth pier from the window!

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