The Park Bench

Every time we visit this drama group, the front of house team always provide a very friendly welcome, last night was no exception.  For their summer show, they chose “The Park Bench” by Ashley Burgoyne.  This is only the second time it has been produced and I understand that the playwright is coming with his family on Saturday, which should be a great boost for this group.

Debut director Leigh Perry chose this play for the small cast and uncomplicated set and the fact it was a very funny show, just right for the audience who support the group.  Talking to her before the show, she was bubbling with enthusiasm and first night nerves but she needn’t have been worried as this show was very good and I was so impressed with the standard and attention to detail she achieved for this production.

We meet Charles (Charlie Willett), sitting on a park bench behind which is yet another stunning set.  I can’t believe the amount of work and creativity that is involved for just two nights, as this set really was super. Charlie Willett and Alan Roast always do justice to their sets and are to be very much congratulated.

Set in a park with the occasional sounds of birds gently tweeting in the background throughout the show, we really felt that we were there too. Charles has always shared the same bench in the park as his wife Rose, although now a widower, Charles comes to talk to his wife every day to relive their good times. He meets Ian (Ross McTaggart) who is in the park to have his lunch. He asks if he can share the bench and. sit down.  Lots of fun ensues when a very perplexed Ian is told that he is sitting on Charlies’ dead wife. 

Later, Ian makes a call to his wife, who he rings each lunch time, so he can assure her he is not with a lady colleague that he had a drunken fling with at the works Christmas party. Ian opens up to Charles about his marriage problems so Charles advises him to talk to his wife and take her out to dinner, Charlies leaves to take his shopping home but accidently leaves a blue plastic bag full of his money on the ground.   Charlie Willett, as Charles gives us a good characterisation of the role and was totally believable. Projecting well with total clarity of speech I thought he really did justice to the role. His sadness and bewilderment plus sometimes forgetfulness were heartfelt; this was really a lovely portrayal. Ross McTaggart, as Ian again proved that he is a fine actor and never fails to deliver.  He was excellent in this role and his portrayal left us feeling sympathy for his predicament, brought on by his own misunderstandings. We look forward to seeing more of him again on stage very soon.

Ian stays and gets into another conversation with Stacey, a young Essex bimbo doing circuits of the park to get her baby to sleep. A single mum, with a high pitch estuary accent, just right for this role. Super costumes for this lady, with bra straps always showing behind her tight tops and lots of gold jewellery.  Teresa Paddon, a new actor with the group was excellent and  I hope to see her again in their next production.  Pushing her Silver Cross pram proudly and never letting go of her mobile phone, while talking to her mate, I really did enjoy watching her. Has she taken the money for her new pram???

I understand Teresa joined after hearing the group promoting their show on BBC Essex.  It would be so good if even more people attended the next auditions as this is a really lovely group to be involved with.

Next to arrive is Ian’s wife Linda, (Joanne Greed) ) who is still suspicious of her husband, but she finds Charles on the bench.  Joanne came over as a gentle soul and I think I would have liked to have given her a bit more fire and strength in her demeanour. A trifle quiet sometimes so I had to really listen,  a little more projection would have helped but she gave a good all round performance as the finally, forgiving wife.

Last but not least were the two ladies who were geocaching.  Apparently this is a type of treasure hunt with online clues using GPS to find hidden caches. Unfortunately the imagination of the pair get them into more trouble than they ever imagined.  Tina  (Pauline Roast) as the more straight forward of the pair, tries hard to be the supportive friend to Connie (Debbie Irby) but never seems to get it right.  Connie is never satisfied with the tea or sandwiches that Tina makes for them or the photos she takes. Connie has a vivid imagination and when she finds a blue plastic bag with money in it, dreams of drug smuggling and catching the culprits with her camera. They end up being taken to the police station for not handing in a pack of what turns out to be fake money.  Both actresses gave good accounts to their perspective personas, which were clear and projected well. I’m sure they had great fun acting these imaginative roles.  We do hear the sound of the police in the distance, voiced by Max Luscombe but this was slightly muffled and unclear although we got the idea when the two ladies march away with their hands up.

Lighting and sound were good, as were the costumes. The set and props were as usual, superb. I would have maybe liked a little less time between scenes as I am not normally in favour of black outs but as it was first night I realised you would not have had much time to check this.

This was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, a good debut for Director, Leigh Perry and her assistant director Nick Hewes.  We look forward as always to the next production. Congratulations to all.

Christine Davidson

NODA East District 8 Rep.

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