Things we do for Love

What a lovely welcome I received when I attended Much Hadham Drama Group on Thursday evening. The Village Hall being the perfect venue for this play by Alan Ayckbourn, “Things We Do For Love.

This was Margaret Stainton’s first venture in the director’s chair and her eye for detail embellished the idea of depicting three different apartments on three different levels. Not an easy concept for the most experienced of directors never mind a first timer! Well done.

The set was well thought out, multi leveled, with attention to detail and nice touches particularly in the central playing area. The kitchen area was very cleverly and accurately painted in perspective to give the illusion of a working room, even a tea-towel hung in place. The notice board and fire hydrant in the hall added to that “lived in feel” and the clever use of occasional lighting all added to the impression of a tidy, well ordered home.

Lisa Turpcu was excellent as Barbara, the bossy house owner with an inner vulnerability and need for love that she desperately strives to suppress. Both diction and timing were very good indeed and well done with coping with the broken wine glass and delivering your lines at the same time as if it were all part of the action.

Jonathan Bayly as Hamish, defined a believable character with a hint of darkness to the role as Barbara’s, lover. There was a positive connection between these two characters which prepared the audience for things to come without giving the game away. Some intuitive direction here.

Nikki Wickstead as Lauren, was genuinely poignant as the emotionally needy former schoolgirl friend, who still looks up to Barbara. Body language was appropriate and off dialogue facial expressions were not in the least bit distracting. Her grief at her betrayal by both her fiancé and best friend was heart-catching but not over the top.

Ralph Camp was perfect as the creepily unctuous postman Gilbert, who as a “jack of all trades” constantly performed tasks to win Barbara’s affection while secretly painting a nude picture of her on the ceiling of his flat and wearing her discarded clothes. I enjoyed this portrayal as it gave just a hint of the kind of lodger one would hope one would never encounter. The drunk episode was well controlled.

The pace was good and the use of dramatic pause was not over worked.

Scene changes were efficient and introductory music appropriate. I was very impressed by your first attempt at directing and encourage you to do more. Congratulations to you all, a good team effort.

I enjoyed my evening with Much Hadham very much and thank you for your generous hospitality.

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