The Full Treatment

Tipton St John Players & Pantomime Society
The Full Treatment by Michael Brett
Directed by Ann & Terry Knight
Tipton St john Community Hall
Friday 31st October 2025
‘Tricia Barclay
NODA SW Representative District 6

The setting for this production was the penthouse suite of the Royal Park Hotel in the
late 1960s and as the curtains opened the stunning set received a well-deserved
round of applause.
The action centred around Henry and Sarah Mellows, nearing their 100th birthdays
and about to celebrate their 80th Wedding Anniversary. Having caught the attention of
the local newspaper, the couple were being treated to a luxury weekend in London,
and a team had been drafted into support the elderly couple through their stay. New
to the group the performer playing George, the rather nervous reporter who had
been summoned to the cover the event, was excellent in the role. Just married that
morning poor George was not only struggling to please his editor but was also
pandering to Brenda, his demanding bride, who was not quite what she seemed to
be on the surface - an elegant and guileful performance from this long-standing
member of the society.
Stella, the secretary was very naturally played, efficient and kind with some striking
outfits, particularly the red dress with the leopard skin shoes! In contrast the nurse
made a very believable brusque and suitably irritable and acerbic character.
Another excellent performance came from Joan the feisty newspaper photographer,
secretly in love with George, who connivingly steered everything to a satisfactory
conclusion and to her own advantage.
Of course, there was a sub-plot, when it turned out that the creepily played Scott, the
hotel PR man, was a bit of a charlatan with his own agenda and was also in league
in Brenda.
As the elderly couple the two performers were simply superb you could almost feel
the pain every time they manoeuvred on and off the low sofa! Squabbling
continuously, they were not at all the devoted old pair everyone was expecting and
were not actually married as they had in fact committed bigamy all those years ago!
They had some wonderful lines “I never did like that man, not for 40 years!”, in fact
they were not actually speaking either but couldn’t remember why!
Completing the cast and giving good support to the principals were a perfect BBC
reporter, a rather distracted maid who was unfortunately entangled with the devious
Scott, and a rather confused and exasperated Editor!
Costumes throughout were just right for the era, lighting spot on, and the drinks shelf
US very impressive.
The prompt did on occasion have a small part to play, and there was a wonderful
moment when George dried on “Look you two” which he covered magnificently!
The piece was all thoughtfully directed by Ann and Terry Knight – a nostalgic
experience having played the elderly couple themselves 30 years previously.
The full house audience at this performance were delighted.
Another enjoyable evening with TIPPS!

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