September in the Rain

Poulton Drama had decided to produce this play by John Godber set in Blackpool and where better to perform it than at the beautiful Grand Theatre in the resort.

John Godber is noted for his observational comedies and down to earth humour, often based on his family. This play, directed by Colin Johnston together with Assistant Director Renee Ames was a “tour de force” production.

This Northern love story following the lives of Jack and his wife Liz on their annual holiday to Blackpool over several years was fascinating, captivating and totally absorbing. Two excellent performances from Ann Thompson and Roger Lloyd Jones, together with John Godber’s excellent script, captured our attention from the outset, ensuring the audience’s involvement,  in the ups and downs of their closely-knit lives.

Splendid comic timing and diction kept us enthralled and engaged and we were swept along with nostalgia and the honesty of the two characters.

I distinctly remember the traffic “bottleneck” in Preston before the advent of Motorways and the apprehension on my first visit to the top of Blackpool Tower.

The performance was enhanced by the excellent back projection together with creative sound and lighting effects. They were certainly technically challenging and all involved are to be congratulated. Minimal props and costumes were completely effective in conveying locations and the changing years. The well-timed deck chair scene was a delightful highlight.

I assumed, quite wrongly, that this play would have been more suited to a more intimate theatre. Despite the size of The Grand’s stage the production team ensured that the intimacy and sensitivity of the piece were conveyed to the very appreciative audience.

This was another exceptional evening by this very talented company. Thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality.

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