Third week in August

‘Third Week in August’ a Peter Gordon play, like many other comedies, points out the weaknesses and sadness to be found in many people's lives. The characters within the play appear on the surface, to have typical and ordinary lives but we find out more as the play progresses. This comedy is set in the present day and revolves around three mismatched families who meet up on a caravan site. The first character we meet is Sue, a budding author seeking peace and quiet as well as some inspiration for her next play. We then meet up with Neville and of course his wife Mary, who holiday here at the same time every year, the third week in August as the plays title suggests. This time however, Mary's sister Liz holidays with them after having left her husband. Next on to the stage is Tony and his girlfriend Jenny, who are taking a break with Tony's children, not that Jenny wants to be there at all. 

 Neville, being the boring type of husband, thrives on the chance to have a group barbecue. The others were left, feeling a little forced into this situation. Mary spent her time telling everyone of Liz's problems. This upset Liz and she disappeared causing a search party. Jenny however is convinced that Tony is having a fling with Sue. Eventually the search party was over and Liz returns with Tony, both of them are wet through, (That must have been cold!!) It seemed that Tony had been mistaken and thought that her late night swim was an act of suicide. The pair then decided to go and dry off in Sue's caravan. This however leads to a huge argument with Jenny, although it somewhat reassured her fears that Tony had been sleeping with Sue, since the beginning of the holiday.

All is well in the end, well kind of, the play finishes with Tony and Jenny falling back in love. Neville, who seemed to have had a personality transplant was ignoring Mary and flying a kite. Sue looked on, realising this whole weeks events could make a good story for her new book!!!  

The stage setting was extremely good with some real caravan parts and even half a field of grass. The actors could even enter and exit from the caravan doors and awnings. To start with the pace was a little slow moving, that however could have been down to the playwright more than the actors and director. On the subject of directors, a special mention must of course go to Ruth Jones, who seemed to effortlessly rise to the challenge and step in to a principle role at such short notice, taking up the role of Mary due to an illness in the cast. This was expertly done and without it being pointed out this could have easily passed people by. She managed the whole play with astonishingly only the one prompt, of which was probably a little hasty.

As I have come to expect with Hoghton Players, everyone gave a fascinating portrayal of people that you can liken to other you may to know. You always leave the theatre feeling happy and that you have really enjoyed your little snippet of theatre. I would like to thank Hoghton Players for their kind invitation once again and look forward to their next play.

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