Two Plays and a Pudding

Thank you for your kind invitation to report on your recent production of “Two plays and a pudding”, a double bill of comedy separated by a serving of pudding.  This was an innovative way of presenting the two one Act plays that held a lot of promise. However, the production did rely on an effective way of serving so many puddings! To take them in the order they were performed:

'Lockdown in Little Grimley'

This was an intriguing script that brought back a lot of reminders of the restrictions and difficulties faces during the Covid 19 lockdown period. I had forgotten about the toilet rolls shortage!  The idea of a meeting to discuss a future drama production was good and the premises worked well. The stage setting was basically a black box with an easel, table and small stack of hall chairs to create a village hall. This was most effective as the chairs were then set out according to lockdown spacing – two metres apart. 

It would have been helpful to have had some sound or music cues for the start of the play perhaps, as the toilet flushes and the sound of the traffic and ambulance worked very well later.  The play within a play could have had more energy about it, even in the arguments.  There were quite a lot of awkward pauses at times. Giving the impression that the play was not quite ready for performance. However, I really enjoyed the fastidious character who wore a mask and wiped everything!

Cast characters:

     Margaret:  a good portrayal of a forthright middle-class woman, a stickler for following rules.  Very amusing facial expressions and body language, particularly when she hears that Bernard has had indigestion, not a heart attack.

Bernard:  depicted as a working-class, practical man with a crude sense of humour and not above nicking loo-rolls from public places.  Occasionally, though, the delivery of lines was perhaps rather slow and unsure.  Good facial expression and body-language.

Joyce:  excellently well portrayed as a keen and willing member of the drama group, though somewhat intellectually challenged.  A very amusing performance with hilarious facial expressions and body-language. Excellent!

Gordon:  well depicted as self-important and condescending, with a high opinion of his own dramatic writing abilities.   However, a more thorough knowledge of the lines would have improved the delivery.  

Altogether this play felt somewhat under-rehearsed, which unfortunately rather robbed the script of its liveliness and some of its humour. There was a need for both greater pace and flow, with perhaps a little more inter-character sparking to bring out the humour. However, it was good to be reminded of the trials and tribulations that we have all lived through recently – and to laugh about it! 

                                                       _________________________________

'Nickers'

In this play about robbers, the script was good, with plenty of spaces for laughter and plenty to be had.   The premise that the owner of the house owned a large and valuable jewel was classic.  It was the situational comedy that was ingenious and very well worked, for example, in the various methods used to break into the house. Also the fact that four robbers were all trying to rob the same person was very amusing. In the light of this situation, the final dènoument was delightful!  

The stage set was very well planned, with a bed centre stage – with the owner asleep in it – and a screen, big safe, table and candlestick. The action was slick, the flow was good and the pace nicely varied.  The costumes, being black, did make the robbers a little invisible against the black curtaining while the balaclavas hid their facial expressions, but these also added to the realism of the comic strip criminals. The use of music was good in setting the scene, while the interactions of the characters was delightful. Lighting was well cued and effective – and the use of the light switch was wonderful!  However, it was the cast that really brought the script to life, as follows:

The characters:

Nibble:  depicted as a “career” burglar, amusingly over-prepared for breaking into what was actually an unlocked house and obsessed with security.  A convincing and funny characterisation.

Piffle:  portrayed as an opportunist burglar, light-hearted and laid-back.  An enjoyable and humorous performance.

Squiggle:  portrayed as practical and business-like, arranging a rota for the others to time-share the diamond.  A good characterisation but perhaps slightly understated.

Dungus:  depicted as a rather slow-witted burglar, amiable and trusting to chance for success.  A very good performance with excellent stage presence.

Mr. McCarther:  an accomplished portrayal of a supposedly doddery old householder.  His tottering walks to the bathroom brought tension to the play - and an amazing twist to the plot.  A telling performance.

This was truly a good comedy, both in the writing and performance as each burglar was revealed in turn.  The characterisations were very good, and the interaction between the performers was lively, energetic and realistic in a comical way.  The contrast of this with the movements of the house owner were very nicely brought out.  Congratulations on a good fun event!

Overall, these were two plays with rather different levels of performance.  Although those who managed to get a pudding no doubt enjoyed it, this did cause some puzzlement in the audience who were not quite sure what was happening!  Perhaps if this is done again, an extra serving station or two would help. However, overall the evening was most amusing and the memory of the ‘Nickers’ will raise a chuckle for some time to come! 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.