The Kitchen Sink

Holt Players’
Production of

“The Kitchen Sink” by Tom Wells.

Director – Richard Wright ,
Stage Manager – Fiona Drysdale,
Lighting & Sound – Keith Draper,

As seen by Bob Allen, NODA SW District 14 Representative

on Friday, 28th, November, 2025
at Holt Village Hall, Holt, Wiltshire.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in
question. The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance, and it is

inevitable that his assessment will be effected by that knowledge.

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in
particular the performance viewed. It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only
be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed. Any criticisms
expressed may not have been valid at other performances, and are only made to encourage higher
standards in Amateur Theatre.
It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and
encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer
will prove helpful in improving future productions.

The Holt Players have a good reputation so I was looking forward to my first visit to
see them. I was also keen to see this Tom Wells play. It is set within a family in
Withernsea, North Yorkshire. Fortunately the cast all spoke with a mild Yorkshire
accent, which worked well, as I believe the true accent would have been difficult for
me to follow. There are five characters in the family and we get to follow their dreams
and aspirations along side the reality of their life. There is just a hint of Alan Bennett I
feel in this script. Wells also uses the incidents in normal life to highlight personal
dilemmas.
Martin, the head of the family has his own milk round but his milk float is on its last
legs. He realises that the round has not been so busy since a Tesco supermarket
recently opened. His wife, Kathy, is the mainstay of the family trying hard to keep
everything normal although she is fixated with trying to cope with a kitchen sink that
is not operating correctly. She is busy saving coins to pay for an update. Their son
Billy is very keen to go to London Art School and has done a portrait of Dolly Parton
as an entrance piece. Daughter Sophie wants to become a teacher of jujitsu but was
involved in an incident in her class which might mean she cannot teach. She also
has a vague relationship with Pete who is a plumber. And that is where we join their
story.
Martin is occupied with his failing milk round and unable to understand the problems
inflicting his family members. He is slow to change his life and slow to understand
the world around him. Kathy is reaching breaking point. Billy goes to London but
quits art school. Sophie decides to help her father on the milk round and Peter may
go to Australia….

The cast played against a period kitchen / diner set which seemed to help stifle the
family. The scenes were as well lit as the venue would allow and the changes were
well handled in the blackouts. I wish we had heard more Dolly Parton music rather
than other period numbers. All the costumes seemed to be in period.
Maxson who played Martin gave a good impression of a man not in control or trying
to ignore the changes around him.
Billy played by Harry was well cast and looked like a student and revealed to us that
he had a heart.
Noelie playing Sophie gave a very good showing of all the turmoil her character was
going thorough and Dan playing Pete won us all over as the doting boyfriend. (And
repaired the sink.)
But like so many plays about families it was Kristin as the Mother that shone though
despite all the worry and almost breakdown.
Richard the Director coached some good performances from the cast, supported
them with an excellent crew to give us a welcome touch of a class act this evening.

Congratulations Holt Players.

Thank you all for presenting such a quality show and I look forward to my next visit.

Kind regards

Bob Allen. NODA SW district 14 Representative

N.B. The comments above are solely the view of the representative attending and

only reflects the performance seen.

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