The Ladykillers

A very ambitious project for such a small stage, but one which Bovingdon Players accomplished well.

The play is most amusing, and I thought the cast brought out the humour well, whilst keeping their various characterisations.

The set was good, and worked well for the cast, allowing them room for movement, although the upstairs room became a little cramped with the full complement of men there, but on the whole it achieved what it was supposed to.

I didn’t think the set was quite as stable as previous sets have been, but this was explained when the upstairs room revolved to show the outside of the window, which was very well achieved.  The intricacy of this was very well thought out.  The door to the cupboard also worked well.

Sound effects were a little too loud at times, but everything was nicely timed and suitable.

The audience was very receptive on the night I was there, and we obviously all enjoyed what was a well-directed and performed play.

Liz Lewis as the central character Mrs Wilberforce, gave us a nicely pitched performance as the slightly naive lady, suddenly pitched into a slightly confused and lawless life, with General Gordon being the focus of her life, very well done.

Michael Swietochowski as Constable Macdonald, showed just the right amount of disbelief, and conversely, understanding of the tales told him by Mrs. Wilberforce.

I liked the diversity of the quintet led by Professor Marcus.  Stewart Woodward gave us a firm but scholarly portrayal of the crooked professor, and whilst I was distracted at times by his scarf, the reason for it being as it was became apparent!

Iain King brought a light and slightly camp feeling to Major Courtney, a nice part that he seemed to enjoy playing, and which gave us several very humerous moments.

John Mower played the obsessive Harry Robinson very well, popping his pills at the slightest opportunity and creating the rather shady, seedy character well.

I thought Ed Fletcher-Wells got the simple nature of One Round, again causing much hilarity at his misunderstanding of situations and inappropriate one liners.

The final gang member, Rumanian Louis Harvey, was played well by Robert Peacock,  with his inherent dislike of old ladies, and his desire to kill everyone off, but not doing it himself if he could help it!  His accent was slight, but enough to differentiate between him and the Englishness of the other characters.

The visitors to the concert were played by Anna Murkowski, Jane Deal and Andrew Jamieson, who all acted very well during the excruciating composition!

I enjoyed the play, and thought everyone acted well, and coped extremely well with the limitations a small stage thrusts upon a cast.

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