The Lady In The Van

Don’t you just love a true story? The Lady In The Van documents when Alan Bennett had a guest, Miss Shepherd live on his drive for many years. Taking liberty with the story of Alan Bennett: while the central story is true some characters are fictional, nevertheless it is an amazing story and Bolton Little Theatre go all out in this production with set.

The set split in two with Alan Bennetts home on Stage Right with muted colours. His office had a large desk with phone and was filled with various office paraphernalia. A window was behind the desk with blinds, shelves and pictures on the back wall with record player. A chair behind the desk and an armchair set Left of the desk. To the middle of the set was the wall outside Alan Bennett’s house with a fence with laurel leaves and a metal bin complete with Miss Shepherd’s poo hanging from it (yes!). The stage then opened out with a backdrop of various windows on different levels depicting the street. A large van was then brought on Stage Left which also turned round revealing the inside where Miss Shepherd lived. This apparently built on stage by the stage crew. Noted the two colours to depict different vans as she was gifted a new one. When it had been established in the scene all Miss Shepherd’s bags and belongings were around it. With the number plate BLT 757E. Impressive

Set Design was by Helen Livesey, Set Construction was by Helen Livesey, Jeff Lunt, Steve Butler, Simon Mott, Tony Lorant, Peter Beckett and Andrew Gradwell. Properties by Jad Mulraney. Lighting and Sound all added to support the piece. Lighting by John Lyon and Peter Gower. Sound by Janice Lynon and McCauley Glossop. Costumes all looked good from the dirty coat that Miss Shepherd wore to the matching outfits of the Alan Bennetts. Wardrobe by Janet Hardman.

The Director was Frances Clemmitt and in her programme notes she mentions never work with animals, children and a van. Well, whatever problems you had with it you pulled it off, it worked a treat and was fun. The stage was used well and the clear sections of the stage worked of the house and neighbourhood street. The supporting cast had little time to develop their characters and relationship to Miss Shepherd but they did and credit to them. The comedy was brought out and even when it was about slugs or Miss Shepherd’s toilet habits, we squirmed as we laughed.

This was a signed production and I could not find the signers name in the programme but she did a sterling job. Roger Broadman played Underwood, James Casterton played the patient Ambulance Driver. Jim Smith took on the Doctor, Andrew Gradwell played Miss Shepherd’s brother Leo Fairchild. Leah Edgerton played a Doctor and Interviewer. Julie Burrell took on Social Worker No 3, I just want to say you needed to look up from the file you were holding as it gave the impression you were reading your script on stage, as we could not see your face properly. Nicola Bateson took on Social Worker No 2 and gave us that person that didn’t want to be there and had no idea what was going on. Funny. Wendy Wilson as Social Worker no 2 had a lovely air about her caring and by simply letting the words speak without over doing it came across genuine.

Margaret Marks played Mam, Alan Bennett’s mum. Lovely performance of the confused mum just wanting to be with her son. Mark Bloomfield played Rufus and Sabrian Kearney Pauline. The so-called do-good neighbours who say what they think people want to hear but actually have other opinions. We all know people like that. Showing Alans Bennetts keen observation of people in the script.

Alan Bennett is played by two people one acting as narrator the other interacting with the characters. Simon Mott takes on the Alan narrator role. Alan the writer stays Stage Right throughout the play in his home and office. He voices his concerns out loud and causes conflict with himself and guilt often arguing with himself. This is a great theatrical device. Simon definitely had Alan’s mannerisms and voice intonation. I did notice a little stuttering of fishing for lines but credit to Simon, he got himself out of it. Craig Harris as the other Alan again mannerism and voice tone spot on worked well with Simon and seeing the conflict between them as they negotiated the strange happing of a woman living on your drive. From the detail of some of these conversations, it was clear it had been documented and the two formed, I want to say it was like a comedy double act but it was more than that as it was filled with pathos and deeply emotive. Craig’s interaction with the characters was funny, sad and sometimes disgusting when having to deal with Miss Shepherd. He took it in his stride and I think what I got from it was he knew he was dealing with no ordinary lady. Well played.

Miss Shepherd played by Carol Butler we first see on stage and we think she is a rock, until she unfurls and stands there in all her glory in filthy coat. When Miss Shepherd tells you something you are not sure if it’s the truth or her imagination. The things she says are so far fetched but the stories are corroborated by her brother. Even her real name Margaret Fairchild. We discover she drove an ambulance in the war and played the piano to a very high standard. Carol gave Miss Shephard a character who was impossible to argue with and it was her way or the highway. Irritated by everyone, eccentric and often damn right unstable. We watch as Carol ploughs through the play with dogged determination and only when she dies do you feel affection for her and all she meant. The last of her type in all their glory not caring what others think. Carol with deadpan humour lifts the script off the page and we actually get a sense of what she could smell like, even though she protests that  she does wash. A believable portrayal.

Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Angela and I - an enjoyable evening with a full house - the audience certainly appreciated it.

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