The Lady in the Van

The true story of  Miss Mary Shepherd who lived in a van in the author's front garden for 15 years has become part of theatre folklore.   Alan Bennett was played by two actors identically dressed, Geoff Brown and Andy Wiggins, caught in two minds about their uninvited guest.    Both captured the essential personality of the mild mannered Bennett, with mannerisms, voice and the frustrations he bore for so long.

Linda McMahon as Miss Shepherd was the epitome of the eccentric and cantankerous lady in the van for whom nothing was ever right and hygiene was non-existent.   She had arrived out of the blue in the Camden street and soon moved her battered van into Bennett's front garden, beginning a fifteen year nuisance that he, due to his extreme patience and perennial good nature, bore with great fortitude.

These three actors underpinned this fascinating play and, as the years passed, Miss Shepherd became more reliant on Bennett for the essentials of living.

Judy Kelly played Bennett's "Mam", showing her gradual descent into senility with great sensitivity and effect.  

The upstage set of the external walls of Bennett's house opposite a neighbour's gated garden (with real shrubs) was cleverly constructed and realistically laid out.   The van, when it arrived in the front garden was artfully convincing as if it were real, the back end being turned round during the interval displaying Mary's efforts at "repainting" it.   Effective tricks of the production trade well displayed!   Alan Bennett's desk, where Alan  2  played himself at work writing, was situated throughout down stage right and showed the important need to use two Alan's.

The neighbours Pauline and Rufus - Linden van Clute and Terry Mayne - had not the patience of Bennett and, though pleasant, would have preferred Miss Shepherd to be elsewhere but were reluctant to make too much fuss.   Both were  authentic portrayals.

Young Eleanor Baldwyn played the Interviewer convincingly.   Yvonne Featherstone was a gentle, sympathetic Social worker trying in vain  to improve Miss Shepherd's circumstances.

A sinister Underwood - Mike May - with some sort of hold over Miss Shepherd twice appeared, to frighten her.   He showed much creepy presence and impressed in this small, but important role.     It appeared that he had witnessed a fatal road accident many years before.   

Mark Barnes played a lout, gardener and, as the played moved to Miss Shepherd's final illness and death, an Ambulance Man.     Also appearing in the final scenes were a Doctor (Aidan Gardner) and the walk-on parts of the Priest (Jeff Wightwick) and Pallbearer (Matt Burgess).    All performed with competence.

Aidan Gardner also played Miss Shepherd's brother, Leo Fairchild, identifying her as his sister Margaret!

There was an emotional and powerful ending when "Mary" emerged ghost like from the coffin and climbed into the back of the van which was lit with a bright heavenly light.   A nice touch.

Lighting by Liz Lindsay was used very effectively, enhancing the magic of this play, never more than in the final scene.

Director John Taylor must have had mixed emotions at this play's success,  as were it not for the untimely loss of the intended director Jill Downie, he would not have been directing at all. As it was he did her proud, his powerful and talented cast being given their heads and producing this mesmeric and highly emotional performance.

This was a most powerful and moving play featuring several gifted actors and with a most  imaginative, hard working and  effective production team, led by the indefatigable Stuart Yeatman and Roy Barnes, among several others.

Dame Maggie Smith opens in the film very soon. Had she been present at this stunning production  she would surely have been impressed.

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