Stage Struck

What could be nicer on a summer evening than to visit the ‘Theatre in the Hut’ once again and to be entertained so completely. ‘Stage Struck’ written by Simon Gray, encompasses all the well known tricks to create a tense but excellent comic murder mystery.

Set in an indeterminate time, the setting is the living room of barn conversion. The three doors and French windows into the garden made it a busy room, the furniture fitted ones perception of rustic middleclass living, although the large settee and chairs left little room for action and playing floor space. The performers spent much time performing from behind the settee.  But it was a nice room with lots of detail. I loved the ornaments on the shelves and the well stocked drinks cupboard.

I wondered at the opening why a set of steps was on stage, above which was a loft trap door and the first action of ‘Robert’ was to remove the steps and put them away… Strange I thought, but the explanation followed later!

The story proved intricate with many twists and turns, surprises and lots of gunshot.  Robert is a former stage manager, now the house husband of successful actress Anne, who is going to leave him. She has been seeing a psychoanalyst Dr Widdecombe who has convinced her that Robert is a philandering husband. Robert confides in a friend and neighbour Herman. The  following conspiracy involves them all.

 The four performers each played their roles successfully.  Anne (Kyla Dawe) a brilliant and successful actress who had come straight from the theatre. She needed a little more glitz and glamour and exaggerated ‘Dahlings’ to convince but was shrewdly performed. Herman was a good foil for his friend Robert and he came into his own in later scenes. Dr Widdecombe (Jo Wilks) underplayed her ‘doctor’ role, but when we discovered who she really was she fitted the part and performed very well. The tour de force in this play was Robert (Steve Hughes). Robert the jovial house husband, Robert the henpecked husband, Robert the philandering husband and without giving the game away … Robert the brilliant stage manager up to every trick and sleight of hand in the book! Well performed, so much to learn, perhaps a little too loud when angry, remember quiet anger can also be menacing and frightening.

This was a very entertaining play. Well directed with good choice of music throughout. Because of the big settee there was not a lot of room to direct your players, but suspense was built into the story and with a surprise or two to make us jump, we all had a good evening. Thank you Wayfarers for inviting us again and showing us warm hospitality. It was appreciated.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.