The Lady Vanishes

This novel, written by Ethel Lina White, was originally published in 1936 entitled ‘The Wheel Spins’. In 1938, the story became a huge hit, when Alfred Hitchcock adapted the novel under its Hollywood name ‘The Lady Vanishes’. A further Hollywood adaption followed in 1979 and more recently, the story was given a new lease of life in 2013 when the BBC further adapted the story.  In recent years there have been several stage versions.

David White, (Director), in his programme notes tells us that this version of the play is based on the novel with subtle reference to the original film.  The story centres on ‘Iris Carr’ a beautiful English tourist travelling alone on Europe by train. ‘Iris’ befriends a woman she knows only as ‘Miss Froy’. During the course of the train journey ‘Miss Froy’ mysteriously vanishes without a trace.  After her fellow passengers deny having seen the elderly lady, ‘Iris’ is helped by a young man and the two proceed to search the train for clues as to Miss Froy’s disappearance.

David White (Director) and Shelia Kenny (Assistant Director) should be congratulated on producing a great play with believable characters! The cast was excellent and obviously very well rehearsed, all adding their own individual contributions whilst working really well together as a ‘team’....well done to everyone involved. 

The star of the show for me was Sarah White in the lead role of ‘Iris Carr’. Sarah was without doubt a ‘perfect fit’ for this role. Great stage presence, confident, superb diction which she used so well to produce a totally believable character; there was ‘tangible chemistry’ between both she and Paul Regan who played ‘Max Hare’ and with Gael Finch who played ‘Miss Froy’ ...  Well done, young lady. Be proud!                

The role of ‘Max Hare’ was played really well by Paul Regan. ‘Max’ is the young man who helps ‘Iris’ search for ‘Miss Froy’. Paul had good stage presence - another able to create a totally believable character. As previously stated he and Sarah had a great chemistry which was evident throughout, he also created a believable partnership with Paul James who played ‘The Professor’.  Paul James did a great job characterising the Professor, he had good stage presence, good mannerisms and his matter of fact approach, very calm, very rational was the polar opposite of Max’s character... well done you guys - great job!

Matt Clark ran Sarah White close for ’star billing’.  Matt provided us with a ‘very sinister’ characterisation of ‘The Doctor’.  Great accent which never faltered, totally believable. Matt brought to life this character and even when not ‘front and centre’... he always appeared to be assessing the situation whilst continually displaying a ‘cold - calculating’ portrayal.   Well done Matt... be ever so proud, sir!

‘Miss Froy’ our disappearing lady, was played well by Gael Finch.  Gael brought the ‘tweed suited’ lady to life. Great characterisation, she worked ever so well with Sarah and created a warm bond between the two of them... again well done!

Julie Webster and Siobhan Edge, who never fail to impress, played the roles of the unmarried, home loving, gossiping, holidaying sisters... Evelyn Flood-Porter and Rose Flood-Porter respectively, who habitually get involved in situations they shouldn’t.  Well cast, ‘perfect fits’ for these parts...the two of them just ‘bounced off each other’ creating two more believable characters...well done ladies!

There were many more good performances in the form of Sean McLaughlin and Nicola Hayes playing ‘Todhunter’ and ‘Mrs Todhunter’ respectively and Alison Griffiths-Barnes and Fraser Bruce playing the roles of ‘Mrs Barnes’ and the ‘Reverend Barnes’ respectively.  Joan Watkinson did a great job portraying the mysterious ‘Baroness’.   There were other small cameo roles taken by Kath Green who ‘doubled up’ as ‘Frau Kummer’ and a ‘Nun’; Vikki Watson played ‘The Waitress’, Tony Stevens played the ‘Border Official’ and Kieron Alami the ‘Porter’. Well done, folks!

Once again Graham Forrest (Stage Manager and Set Designer) and his Construction Team and Painters - Steven Barnes, Scarlett Brocklehurst, Martin Dempsey, Graham Forrest, Gordon Manley and Paul Gregson should be commended on their use of ‘stage space’ which was excellent.  Another ‘home made set’ that made use of every inch of space.  The set was well constructed, handled with precision and added so much to the overall performance ...congratulations to one and all.

Lighting and Sound was really good and added to the overall performance ... congrats to Stephen Porter.  Costumes were of a high standard and apt for the period as were the ‘Props’... congratulations to Jean Lee, Kath Creer and the cast and to Kieron Alami and Scarlett Brocklehurst respectively.

If I may be so bold as to bring to the attention of not only St Ambrose, but all societies just one small piece of ‘constructive advice’ as opposed to ‘constructive criticism’.  I know that the use of ‘haze’ was announced before this play commenced ... but the use of ‘haze’, can and did on this occasion, cause some problems, not only to me, but to others who were sat close to the stage!  ‘Haze’ can be an effective element in ‘creating and adding’ atmosphere, it can also be used to ‘create and add’ to the effect of lighting, but when people are sat covering their faces and coughing every time it is used it can be and was a problem.  Just something to bear in mind for the future!

Thank you so much of inviting my wife and I we thoroughly enjoyed the performance and look forward to getting into the ‘habit’ for ‘Sister Act’.

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