The Final Rehearsal

Fresh from their rendition of Shreck earlier this year, Audlem Theatre Company, formally Audlem 5A’s, have produced another hilarious play – this time, set at the final rehearsal for an amateur play.  To say this is theatre, within theatre, within theatre is an understatement.  I will admit, it was hard to keep up to date with the character names as the actors referred to their ‘actor’ names rather than the ‘character within the play names’ that was on the programme page.  Despite the confusion, the audience were kept constantly entertained via the one liners and slapstick humour.  Audlem Theatre Company always write their own plays and have won numerous awards and it’s not hard to see why.  The clever scripts are a great showcase for their obvious talent.  Of course, it would be nice to see something different from the norm, but they stick to what they do best, comedy, and this play was no exception. 

The director, Colin Cliffe kept a good pace throughout the scenes.  Before the audience had time to laugh at the one liners, we were treated to another, and another.  The pace enabled the script to be the star of the show and it was very much appreciated by me.  I’ll admit, I was slightly confused at times, whether we were watching a play rehearsal (the actors playing to an empty audience) or a play rehearsal with audience, who were giving the actors a chance to interact with them?  Did we have a fourth wall or not?  I still don’t know.  The cast were well rehearsed and well-cast.  It was funny to see the cross dressing and the shtick as it came from a truthful place but for me, it would have been funnier for the cast to perform to the audience and were trying to hide the fact that they were messing up and getting other people to fill in by being surreptitious and masking their trauma.  Instead, we had actors shouting out and being really obvious – which was still entertaining all the same.  This play had undertones of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ and the audience were treated to laughter from the get-go.  Even the bows were well thought out and funny.  Overall, a very enjoyable evening at the theatre was had by all.

The costumes for this play were basic but apt.  It was easy to tell which character was which in every scene.  The lighting was basic but good also.  A big shout out must go to the sound dept (James Hope) who was kept busy throughout the show playing in the wrong sound effects – a brilliant idea and very entertaining.

Cat Hunter played the role of Lady T – the main character of the play.  For me, Cat was a little over the top with her reactions in act one but was brilliantly entertaining as the drugged-up diva in act two.  Cat is good at physical comedy and was well cast in this role.

Lord and Lady Soddem were played by Trevor Hough and Helen Katterloher.  Both were well-cast and very entertaining.  I loved the heightened R.P that Trevor used.  His physicality was very funny also.  Helen, as always, has amazing projection and is a good storyteller.

Kieran Campion made the audience howl with his sweet portrayal of Hugo Soddem.  Even his bow at the end of the show was funny.

Luke Murphy was great as Brian as was David Davenport (Sid).  Luke and David have great comic timing and aren’t afraid to look stupid on stage.  This confidence allows the audience to be entertained without barriers.  Lovely physical comedy in this performance – well done!

Colin Cliffe and Sarah Shillito were very entertaining as the detective duo who were hopeless at solving the crime!  Colin has the most wonderful comic timing and a way of delivering one liners, whilst Sarah gave a very naturalistic performance and was brilliant to watch!  Sarah’s naturalism and facial expressions were excellent!

Other parts were played by Cheryl Guerin, Hannah Cliffe, Alan Duncan and Corey Matravers and all had their part to play.  I look forward to seeing what they all do next.  The rest of the cast were made up of some youth performers in Taylor Nettleton, Adam Rogers, Rhiannon Brookes and Maddison Matravers.  I think it is fair to say that the audience were thoroughly entertained from start to finish.  My guest and I were also very well looked after.  This play and this society are very much the heart of the community.  Tonight’s performance was moved out of the local community and into an adjoining hall in a nearby village.  It would be a shame to lose Audlem Theatre Company from their home at Audlem Public Hall as they provide various opportunities for members of the community of all ages, offering them a warm welcome and a form of escapism that is theatre. Long may it continue.  I wish Audlem Theatre Company ‘the luck of the Irish’ for their upcoming one act play festival and can’t wait to return to see them in their next production.

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