Strike Happy

St Vincent’s take on the comedy Strike Happy by Duncan Greenwood for their 30 year anniversary. The play turns into a comedy of errors as the wife of a man on strike decides to go on strike herself.

We see the home of the Hellewell’s sitting room with a glimpse into the kitchen through open archway Stage Right showing kitchen unit and radio. Stage Left was a door to the outside and upstairs and we could see hooks with coats on in the hall. Stage Right was a window dressed with burgundy plush curtain complete with pelmet. Under the window was a table with four ladder back chairs around the table. Stage Right was a fireplace with figurines and a clock on the mantlepiece. Stage Right were three armchairs one with an antimacassar. On the back wall between the doors was a cabinet filled with books and ornaments and more importantly beer in the bottom cupboard. The walls were decorated with various pictures and a mirror over the fireplace. A standard lamp was in the right corner of the room and lampshade hanging centre stage. Brass light switches were on the wall. In one scene a tin bath was brought on and filled with water and a bed down Stage Right in another scene. Stage Design and Dressing was Tricia Shorten, Eric Jones, Alison Owen, Karl Owen, Katherine Haslam and Colette Rowe. Stage Manger Alison Owen. There were actually quite a lot of props used in the play from tea sets to various cases and brief cases, buckets which all added to comedy of errors. Properties were Eric Jones, Vivienne Farnard, Alison Owen, Debbie Eustace, Toni-Lea O’Mahoney.

Costume and hair all looked in keeping from Clara Hellewell’s old-fashioned wrap-around pinny to the glamorous red and black outfits of the Flannel women, which certainly made a statement. Added to that was Benjamin Tapeworth’s suit and his various states of undress. Wardrobe by Pat Quinlan, Irene Holmes, Tricia Shorten and Cast. Lighting and Sound all added to the production with appropriate music. Sound and Lighting Toni Maloney and Adrian Mottram.

Tricia Shorten directs and certainly get the comedy out of the piece. The stage was used well and the sitting room looked very homely and lived in. The script was slightly misogynistic and the gasps from the audience echoed that. With a few first night nerves the characters settled in and were well defined and little touches like the impact of the Flannel ladies arrival worked and the lodger Benjamin Tapeworth with shower cap, loofer and rubber duck was very funny. The scene when Tapeworth arrives home drunk and the comedy business which then ensues landed well.

Toni-Lea O’Mahoney played Estelle although the charter is mentioned in the script Toni-Lea entrance is right at the end adding to the comedy. Gillian Parkinson played Elise Hellewell who gets more than she bargained for when she goes along with her mother’s strike. Rosie Flannel is played by Sian Billington and she gave her all when in seducing mode. Her mother Mrs Flannel played by Margaret Parkinson also in seducing mode but more with acts of kindness and looking after people and ability to read people. We come to realise they are on the take. I did just wonder at the different accents, though they did work well together and had good characterisation which was clearly understood.

Benjamin Tapeworth was played by Mike Jones. We see his life start to crumble and his worry at what his mother would think. He arrived haughty and we then witness his demise, each scene getting funnier and funnier. Well played Mike. Benjamin Tapeworth demise was somewhat engineered by Albert Hellewell played by Carl Bottomley. Whose wife has decided to go on strike. At first he laps it up and enjoys it thinking he can play her at her own game but when he hasn’t eaten for a few days its all start to unravel and a house full of strangers take their toll. Carl played the not sure what was going on really husband to a T and the drunk scene with Tapeworth, fake spots/rash and beer for breakfast scene worked. Carl working well with Rhys Churchill playing George Seagar as the gauche and tactless misogynist with added ageist comments. We got the gist of the character: egged on by his future father-in-law he got deeper into trouble. I did like that you could see what was on his face before he was about to speak. It added to the comedy. Carmela Horne played Clara Hellewell who downs tools as she has had enough of trying to make ends meet. Carmela had great energy and very much gave us the Hyacinth Bucket character changing her voice to a telephone tone when speaking to Mr Tapeworth and even curtsying. So funny. Instead of saying evening meal using words like ‘evening repas.’ Her indignation at seeing her husband in compromising positions all added to the comedy. Great character!

Thank you for the laughs, invite and hospitality from me and my guests Ursula and Dawn.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.