Stage Struck

WADS chose a thriller for their Easter offering at the Whitby Pavilion and the small cast of four delivered a secure performance of this cleverly devised piece of drama.   Anne O’Neill (Katrina Stead) is a famous West End actress who is married to Robert Simon (Ian Dobson), a once renowned stage manager, and who has fallen into being an ostensibly loving house-husband for his ever-demanding wife.  Having called on the expertise of the mysterious Widdecombe (Ivan Hall), Anne announces that she is no longer happy in their marriage and provides Robert with an ultimatum. Widecombe’s advice leads to a catalogue of catastrophic events, all observed by the seemingly unconnected Herman (Jon Risdon), who rents the cottage next door.    All the characters of this play are chameleons, you never quite know their true colour.  Whilst much of the dark humour was extracted by the actors, at times the gravity of the crimes being committed lacked some intensity and seriousness.  However, the twists and turns kept coming and the audience were with the cast right up to the final curtain. Well done to all involved in this tricky thriller, a brave departure from the usual Easter comedy. 

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