Two Farces From Little Grimley

This week at Skipton Little Theatre the Sutton Green Hut Theatre Company were pretending to be ‘hopeless thespians who couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag’, but the Sutton based actors gave a polished, dynamic performance that had the Little Theatre crowd in stitches and roaring with laughter. The double-dose of David Tristram's comedy dramas Murder in Little Grimley and The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley - were both fast-paced and packed with zingy one-liners and very relatable situations, and five loveable characters. With razor sharp dialogue and impeccable comic timing, the Sutton Green Hut Theatre Company brought these hilarious plays to life."

The set of one act plays all have four main characters. Bernard played by Phillip Boocock - General backstage member and minor actor. Margaret played by Alison Waters - diva actress and quite voluptuous. Gordon played by Philip Smith - Chairman - doggedly believes in the Society no matter what the adversity is and Joyce played by Emma Jayne Jennings - secretary of the society. Timid librarian and erstwhile dreamer of being in a musical! Murder in Little Grimley introduces a new surprise character towards the end. Sam (the Detective) played by John Cahill

In Act One the company performed “Murder in Little Grimley”. Anxious to cash in on the public’s appetite for detective dramas, the Chairman Gordon writes a whodunit. But in a bizarre twist he then finds himself embroiled in a real-life murder mystery that threatens to put him behind bars. The quarrelsome quartet have been in some sticky situations over the years. But can they possibly get away with murder? 

In Act Two the company performed The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley. Gordon, Margaret, Joyce and Bernard are back to tackle yet another threat to their survival - this time in the shape of a rival am-dram, newly formed in their village, determined to upstage them with an award-winning musical. The querulous quartet pull together to devise an ingenious military-style plan that doesn't, well, go quite to plan.  When their subterfuge is discovered by the rival society's psychopathic front-of-house manager, he's none too pleased. Add in a few emotional complications for Gordon, and things look a little grim for Little Grimley.  Could this finally be the end of their society?

The company quite rightly ended the show with a rousing "Theres No Business-Like Show Business"

To find out what happens I recommend you go see both one act plays – you won’t be disappointed. Thank you, Sutton Green Hut Theatre Company and Skipton Little Theatre, for a wonderful evening.

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