The Actress

The dressing room of a theatrical star is as full of conflicting emotions as there are on stage. And so it proves, in this delightful and light-hearted play by Peter Quilter, as the famous Lydia Martin sweeps in for the final performance of her long and glittering career. Around her are her dresser, her agent, her daughter, her ex husband, her new fiancé and the company manager, bringing with them a flurry of goodbyes, tears, insults, laughs, recriminations, kisses and regrets. On stage she takes her final bow to storms of applause before returning to the dressing room to make a final decision on her future.
Lydia was played by Joan Kay and, as the play was really all about her and the relationships that influenced her life, she had a vast part to learn,  She dealt with that supremely well, enabling her to show the high and lows of acting at such a high level, but also the effects that many people have had on her life. Well done Joan -  a most difficult role and memorably played.
Marie Isbister played Katherine, Lydia’s dresser and she was the very epitome of what we feel dressers who have been working with stars, are all like.  Always there in the dressing-room, ready to see and act upon stars little whims.  She played the power behind Lydia’s throne perfectly.  Her standards were high, she didn’t suffer fools gladly and we sensed the pride she had in her star, and, although she never really said so, her feelings for her.  
Paul, Lydia’s former husband was played by Chris Binns, who also directed the play. He kept the story bubbling along whenever he was on.  He wanted a new beginning with Lydia and he produced many reasons for his enduring passion, one of which nearly did the trick.  Imagine having to go on for your last performance minutes after that physical romp.  He uses the stage so well and his influence brought much to embellish the story.
Dave Collins was Geoffrey, whose job it was to come and go from stage management, keep people aware of time, progress, instructions etc.  A delightfully camp performance from Dave, very different from last time I saw him as Fenner in Bad Girls. Very impressive in the shouting match and super change of demeanour thereafter, showing just how much he had been offended.  Well done.
Just making it up the flight of steep stairs to wish Lydia well, came elderly Charles, the fiancé ready to provide the calm after the acting storm with an agreed life together by the shores of Lake Geneva – all sparkling water, clean streets, fresh air and maybe boredom? Bernard Wilson realistically huffed and puffed but showed Charles’s adoration for Lydia, willing to share all his wealth with her. 
Given her parent’s characters, Georgia Dennis, as daughter Nicole is amazingly grounded and sensible. Affectionate to both her parents, in spite of their break-up, the characterisation was charming and believable, bringing moments of sanity into the dressing room’s whirlwind.
Harriet, Lydia’s agent, played by Jane Collins, comes to Lydia’s final performance with flattery and a bottle of brandy.  They had obviously been close over the years, but when Lydia also begins to flatter, Harriet gets upset and bemoans her own life. Incredible change when the play The Cherry Orchard is finally over and she forgets her speech, and then nobody there to listen, culminating in her tipsiness and furious row with Lydia.  Jane’s performance laid bare her character’s soul and was extremely moving.

The set was something of a masterpiece with the stage divided into two locations.  Roughly, two thirds of it,  was the star’s dressing-room.  Full of what we would expect to be included – table and mirror for make-up, costume area, seats, etc., covered with flowers for the star, overflowing on to the floor.  Phone, drinks, a record player, cards, greetings etc and posters on the wall completed the decor.  The other third was the Stage area itself, where The Cherry Orchard played out. The excellent set was complemented by timely and appropriate sound (Neil Bradford) and lighting effects (Tina Nutt & Dave Harris)  Congratulations to the Stage Manager, Rowena Saville, her Set Team, Mel Silver, Brian Stead, Jeff Brown & Fran Silver and Props, David Waite.
This is a play which, with different writing, could have easily been turned into a farce like Michael Frayne’s ‘Noises Off’, or alternatively made into a poignant drama akin to Ronald Harwood’s ‘The Dresser’, both of which show the theatre world from a behind-the-scenes perspective, but in very different ways. The Actress does not have the consistency of comedy to be classed as a really funny play but has too many genuinely funny bits to be classed as a serious drama.
Chris Binns called upon his many years of experience as both actor and director to bring this theatrical tale to life, assisted by an exceptionally talented cast.

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