Talking Heads
Information
- Date
- 4th December 2014
- Society
- Stonegate Amateur Dramatic Society
- Venue
- Stonegate Village Hall
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Susan Bowie and Sarah Gibbs
~~A collection Alan Bennett monologues from his creation of the Talking Heads series. Observing humans by listening to everyday conversations Bennett’s writing has the ability to turn emotions upside down with descriptions that make you laugh and then cry within moments. All the pieces are demanding, sharp and lengthy and we had put before us four amazing female characters. Stephen Evans F of H organised seating arrangements, the Hall full to bursting with the tables laid up tastefully. Simple but professional looking A5 programme Alan Bennett front and back with some interesting notes but no NODA logo this time. Action took place front of black tabs with minimal furniture and dressing, but just sufficient to set each scenario perfectly with no fuss movement using lights dimmed or blackouts denoting passages of time again designed and operated by John Bush. Costumes and Props supervised by Nicola Dealtry gave the four, including herself as aspiring actress Lesley complimented with good make and hair styling from Hayley Slade and Alli Williams. This presentation was of high quality from Susan and Sarah’s vision together with the acting talent tackling mammoth pieces of script with such, emotion and amusement with accents well maintained throughout. ‘A Lady of Letters’ Anna Canetty-Clarke became the perfect Miss Irene Ruddock, a working class, single Bradford woman who, given any opportunity, put her thoughts into letter writing. She’ll write to anybody and ends up in prison over it. Nicola Dealtry took the role of Lesley, attractive but slightly lacking intelligence in ‘Her Big Chance’ mainly performing from her dressing room clad in a dressing gown. Playing a few unpromising roles, her big break is imminent when Travis who is ‘interesting’ is to shoot a film which of course turns out to be a soft porn film! A lovely piece of naivety. An enjoyable chicken dinner followed by a chocolate mousse was then served thanks to Chef Rachel Walters, Food co-ordinators Elspeth Hill, Lynne Fraser and servers. ‘A Bed Among The Lentils’ saw a portrayal of Susan, the rather miserable vicar’s wife superbly performed by Mary Alderson. Of nervous disposition, an alcoholic she travels to a Leeds off-licence as she is in debt locally. She distracts herself from her insensitive husband and his flock by having an affair with grocer Ramesh, discovering herself and God but doesn’t feel cheated when Ramesh moves on. Excellent asides throughout, and her various voices and forever changing facial expressions so convincing, she became other characters. Possibly the most poignant piece was Kate Welch’s moving rendition of poor elderly Doris in ‘A Cream Cracker under the Settee’. She has suffered a fall, is a tidy person alone and she’s trying to clear up after her less thorough home help Zulema has left. She discovers a cream cracker under the settee – the question is should she eat it! She appears to have constantly nagged late husband Jeffrey, was this a contributory factor to his early demise? A care home is probably the only solution for her, but these places she totally mistrusts and decides she rather die on her own than go to a home that smelt of pee.
© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.