Suddenly at Home

This was the first full length play presented by this group since 2019, and certainly was an ambitious choice with a complex plot, a wordy script, and some demanding parts.

When Glenn Howard decides to “bump off” his wealthy wife he engineers a complicated but seemingly fool proof plan which would keep himself in the clear while implicating his wife’s former lover Sam Blaine, but as they often say, “the best laid plans”!

The action took place in the living room of the Howard’s flat in the early 1970’s and the curtains opened to an attractively designed and suitably dressed set receiving a well-deserved round of applause.

Glenn’s wife Maggie and her sister Helen were waiting for her actress friend Sheila who had tickets for a play, but when Sheila finally arrives, she comes up with a story about her father being ill and having to go to Eastbourne. The plot thickens later that evening when Sheila returns to the flat and it becomes obvious that she and Glenn are having an affair!

With the housekeeper supposedly out of the way for a few days Glenn does the deed and with Sheila’s help disposes of the body. Dun dun dun!

Getting a cast together can sometimes be challenging and in this case the director certainly had to think outside of the box.

The role of the “au pair” was changed to an older but none the less attractive Housekeeper, who also happened to be having an affair with Glenn and was believably played by a new member of the group, while a younger long-standing performer confidently took on the role of Maggie.

Sheila appeared in a range of eye-catching outfits, particularly the green knee boots and matching jockey cap, and grew increasingly edgy as the plot fell apart, losing it completely at the end and stopping Glen in his tracks!

Thriller writer Sam rumbled their plot and put his own plan in motion setting a very clever trap and gave a dependable and endearing portrayal.

Helen, Glenn’s sister-in-law, drove the action along throughout as well as coping excellently and believably with her irascible husband Alec who was always giving his advice on the end of the telephone!

Detective Appleton, called in to solve the case, was solidly played, and the deceptive lady detective Renwick, another small adjustment to the original cast, brought in by Sam to muddy the waters, was convincing.

The performer in the role of the conniving two-timing Glenn was hardly ever off stage in what was possibly his first leading role, and with a lot to cope with he certainly gave it his best shot.

The set was well designed for the period and the orange curtains were particularly eye-catching and of the time. The occasional chair upholstered in matching material was a nice touch but rocked from side to side and must have been unsettling to sit on. The sofa was striking but did take up a large area of the stage cutting down the acting space somewhat.

Smoking is also a tricky one these days, especially for the uninitiated, and perhaps best avoided if an alternative way round can be found, not always easy in a piece of this period but not impossible.  

As is typical with Durbridge there were a lot of comings and goings, detail about people who are never seen and a multitude of doorbells and telephone calls, and the sole person operating both the lighting and sound did sterling work – well done!

The cast and crew all did well to bring this rather meandering piece to the stage, and especially with the rehearsal period affected by Covid. It certainly kept the last night audience on its toes and was very warmly received.

 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what they see at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance, and it is inevitable that their assessment will be affected by that knowledge.

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance viewed.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre.

It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

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