Shakers

The play Shakers is one of a series of plays by writers John Godber and Jane Thornton. Set in a ‘trendy’ 1980’s cocktail bar, it depicts the lives of the 4 waitresses who work in the bar along with parodies of the customers who frequent it. The play only has 4 cast members who switch between characters from start to finish and moves along at a fantastic pace.

So, to the cast - Adele played by Abi Carter, Carol played by Sophie Bullivant, Mel, played by Laura Castle and Nicki played by Holly Smith. It would be totally unfair to pick out any one member of this brilliant cast as all four were absolutely exceptional, with amazing interaction between the main characterisations and superb interpretations of the ‘customers’. Mostly these are brief cameos, caricatured and often very funny, with the instant changes of character, class and gender - from the couple struggling to pronounce the items on the menu to the ostentatious BBC producers. However, the waitresses themselves, though smartly going through the well-rehearsed synchronised manoeuvres as a group, emerge as individual well-defined characters. Each of them regularly step out of the action to deliver a short monologue which gives a context behind her actions and reactions.

The director for this production, Jamie McKeller relied heavily on physicality and vocal trickery, just giving the girls a small tweak to their costume to signify which character they’re now portraying.

The girls, as an ensemble, made the play their own as they gave us an insight into some of the characters we come across in everyday life. From checkout girls excited for a night out to a typical lads’ night on the town and posh couples enjoying a meal, each set of characters portrayed were completely amusing and a blatant result of accurate people watching.

The more serious side to the show slots in brilliantly, after being thrown many comic anecdotes we’re hit with something heavier as one of the girls would occasionally step out of the action to enlighten us on troubles that have affected them which were handled incredibly well. The cast members’ abilities to jump flawlessly from one character to another and from such contrasting emotions was impressive.

The set was deceptively simple – four differently coloured, illuminated “bars”, which doubled as checkout counters or anything they needed them to be. “Simple” it may have been but the way the set was used was extremely complex – it almost became a fifth member of the cast, such was the way it was integrated into the action. The concept was the Director’s, Jamie McKeller, and the construction was in the hands of Lee Smith and Paul Mantle.

I dread to think how many lighting and sound cues were in this production! Each one was both timely, appropriate and enhanced the action on stage. Congratulations to Laura McKeller on sound and the uncredited lighting designer and operator.

Costume, props, hair and makeup were all suitable for the 1980s era of the play, thanks to Leni Ella (costume and props) and Ami Carter (hair and makeup)

The production flowed smoothly in the hands of the stage manager, Nick Lay, and the production manager, Lisa Green.

Finally, I must congratulate the Director, Jamie McKeller, who masterminded this stunning piece  of theatre. The end product was worth the many hours he must have put into the show. 

This production was of a professional standard, in all aspects, and was one of the finest I have seen in my time as a NODA Regional Rep. One again, congratulations to Rowntree Players and everybody involved in the production.

 

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