The Birds, The Bees and Therapy

I had a tricky task visiting Tiverton Dramatic for their Production of ‘The Birds, The Bees and Therapy’ - being incognito at the request of the Committee. Not very easy when you’re 6’4” and the theatre only seats 180. But I tried my best for the sake of a nervous director! I don’t know what he was worried about. I had a great time watching the company’s antics with this new comedy, as did the rest of the audience. It was written by one of the society’s own who is stretching his creativity into the world of playwriting and if our night’s entertainment is anything to go by, Jack has a bright future in print!

The comedy is devised on a split-stage, half in the flat of the manic Steve Kingsellar and half in the local community centre where he works as a therapist, alongside the forthright Vicki. We are served up a wonderful array of extreme characters from the disruptive (and well played) drunk Tom to the very proper Wendy (who is plotting revenge against her cheating husband). While Steve and Vicki try to manage the behaviours in a brilliant group therapy session, causing chaos back at Steve’s flat is his father who has been kicked out by his wife. Although made-up to look a little too old to be Steve’s father, Mike Kingsellar, the show was stolen by his hilarious characterisation which made for a cross between Anton Rogers and Joe Pasquale. To be fair Steve would have had a very easy day if it weren’t for a disastrous meeting with Sam the night before. I loved Sam’s energy and, dare I say, verbal diarrhoea which was sending Steve into a downward spiral of madness - so throwing in a randy neighbour (in stunning pink stilettos) and his long-time yearning for a woman who seems out of reach and you have the recipe for a chaotic night of fun. Just not for Steve!

The strength of the principle players did leave a couple of the weaker cast members behind at times, but this didn’t detract from the overall performance. The most vital thing to get right in a comedy of this nature is the pace. Too slow and the comedy seems laboured, but too fast and you risk confusing the audience. This is a play with quite a large cast, but despite the challenge that this can present, the company managed to keep their timing sharp (with just one slip which called for a prompt) and the audience with with them every step of the way.

I certainly hope to see ‘The Birds, The Bees and Therapy’ let loose on other stages round-and-about soon!

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