There Goes The Bride

This well known Cooney / Chapman farce, though stretching credulity at times (with a ghost visible only to Timothy Westerby) contained all the vital components of any top quality farce - high drama, pace, comedy, exaggerated situations, stereotypical characters, improbability and physical horseplay.

Once again, as is now customary, TOPS provided a superbly designed and built set. Martin Beatty was the man with this vision and Patrick Tricker did painting with a willing team of members helping build.

Good standard costumes were courtesy of Tricia Whyte, the assistant director. Tricia, together with Muriel Lister, skilfully dressed the set. The flapper costume for Polly Perkins was excellent and really added further authenticity to the delightful performance in this rewarding role, given by Amy Prosser

Peter Calver in the lead role of Timothy Westerby was, once again, a joy to behold. This paragon was born to be on stage and his supreme talent is obvious. Anyone who was not bowled over by Peter's performance should never be allowed within a mile of any theatre ever again.

Kay Sandford-Beal as Timothy's confused wife, Ursula, was a wonderful foil, as only Timothy - courtesy of a bang on the head could see Polly, effectively a ghost - confusion and bewilderment was rife through all other cast members. They all played their diverse characters splendidly. Beckie Wilkes as Judy Westerby, who was to be married that very day, had a difficult role to play, but greatly impressed me.              

The hilarious misunderstanding and excuses made, built to a comic delight. A wonderful script as this one is was given full justice by a richly talented cast who must have delighted the director Alan Webber. I loved the 'phone calls business, the squirting soda syphon, Timothy thinking he was Fred Astaire and Polly was Ginger Rogers, offering Dr. Gerald Drummond (his father-in law) a tip, thinking him to be the porter.  Ushering Polly (invisible to all except Timothy) into the adjoining room several times was a hoot!

Dena Watts was Timothy's formidable mother-in law Daphne Drummond, exuding stage presence and Daphne's confused husband Dr. Gerald Drummond, played by Phil Fry, stumbled pricelessly from one confusion to another.

Bob Wilson played the business partner Bill Shorter to the hilt, his easy and somewhat laid back personality adding much to the hilarity to proceedings. Even his name, Shorter, was the source of yet more misunderstanding as Bob is "taller" than most. Much thought had clearly gone into the casting and suitability to play each role.

Finally, we met the somewhat short fused Australian father of the bridegroom to be, Charles Babcock, with a slightly dodgy accent, but wonderfully played by Guy Hudson. His son, Nicholas, was referred to, but never seen.

Lighting design and operation was provided by Martin Lloyd and surely handled. John Chinnock was on sound design and operation and did equally well. Stephanie Hornett-Johnson did her usual fine job on hair and make up and the evident team effort which so enhances all TOPS productions was again much in evidence.

This was another top class production quite in keeping with the professional standard of plays so regularly presented by the elite members, both on and off stage in TOPS. Heady days indeed for the company!

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