Trivial Pursuits

Anyone who has ever been involved in Amateur Dramatics will know there is never any kind of hidden agenda, or any bitchy back biting and never any hint of an attempt to influence the selection of productions or god forbid any angling for roles….ahem.

A summer evening's barbecue is the setting for a meeting of the local Am Dram Society. Next season's musical offering is being announced but Nick, the Society's resident director has promised a different show and the lead roles to four different people.

As always the set looked great and was complimented by workable props. I think perhaps it might have been better to restage the setting of the garden furniture as there was the odd issue with masking and other one on one conversations which really needed to be moved away from other characters. Just minor observations.

Devious director Nick played by Andrew Marsh, taking his role very seriously, delivered a first class performance and his confident on stage wife Roz was played by the talented Jean Carter.

Marie Lloyd played the Mona, society Diva with plenty of style delivering some fantastically funny one liners which had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.

Carla Hayden was great as the society treasurer Pearl, not quite our Joyce but brought some very real conversations about show budgets, which made me quietly chuckle.

Depressive Derek was expertly played by Joe Wiswell and his on stage long suffering ex wife Deidre was played by the very diverse Lisa Griffiths.

A lovely cameo role came from Josh Hankey as Eddie, the slightly aspergers, television obsessed bore.

The gorgeous Emma Benson played Jessica and was perfectly cast (and with a knockout smile!)

A great performance came from Vicky Dilworth as Joyce, the society’s once leading lady. Her drunk scenes were probably the most realistic I’ve ever seen. Brilliant.

Without a doubt, the performance of the night for me came from Barry Dilworth, the larger than life Teddy, outrageously gay and as camp as row of tents.

This hilarious play by Frank Vickery was such a great choice for such a well-established and talented Theatre Company. It was so well cast and each performer really took ownership of their characters and their scenes – or at least until Barry came along and stole the limelight.

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