Third Week in August

St Vincent’s production of Third Week in August written by Peter Gordon who also wrote Out of Focus is a comedy set in a caravan park. The staging by Owen Riley and Bert Halliday really set the scene: half a static caravan stage right with outdoor seating to front and stage left, complete with barbecue towards the back - really well designed. Costumes were all appropriate and in keeping with their characters. Music was aptly chosen for the opening and scene changes.

Maureen Clare directs this comedy six-hander, well cast with some hilarious moments. We have all been on holiday and met that person who could bore for England and knows all the rules and keeps on talking at you. . . Howard Clare playing Neville is one such person, with his 23 badges from the caravan club which he also tells you of more than once to anybody who will listen, although his wife thinks it’s more. His monotone voice and vacant stare adding to the comedy. Although his wife and others think him dull and inadequate, he is actually very astute and one step ahead of his bossy wife.  Well thought out performance.

Margaret Parkinson who plays Mary, Neville’s wife was perfectly cast but did struggle with lines at times, which was a shame and this sometimes affected the pace. I did however like the touch of her actually getting real food ready for the barbecue.

Gilly Parkinson as Sue, who booked her holiday on her own to get away from it all, finds her holiday ambushed and somehow ends up entwined in the two couples’ lives. Gilly played this well and her looks said it all (the subtext being that by the end she had inadvertently collated material for her next book!).

Debbie Eustace who played Liz, the long-suffering sister of Mary. Great reveal of character: at first, appearing meek and mild while her sister bad mouths her and tells everyone her private business, then actually turning into a real psycho - I would never have guessed - well played!

Keith Hindley playing Tony, the chappie always full of fun & up for a laugh - so much so, he fails to see what’s in front of him: his innocence leads him into many a scrape that gets him into trouble with his girlfriend. Some hilarious moments and Keith has very funny bones: loved the line “I would rather be at home driving nails through my feet.” Howard and Keith also both did a great job of miming flying the kite - very believable!

Tricia Shorten as Jenny the long-suffering girlfriend has a great character to portray and she looked to have a lot of fun with it - I really liked how she played it, having great fun teasing Neville with her salacious book.

This is not a play I have seen before and it was great to get to watch, very funny - really enjoyable!

Thank you from my guest and I for your lovely hospitality.

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