Two Plays, One Evening

What better way to bring a company back to life after Covid than these two one-act comedies: Lockdown in Little Grimley by David Tristram and A Jolly Sinister Jape by Elliot Strange? Highbury Players have moved to a new home – the very comfortable and well-appointed Purbrook Centre - and we received a very warm welcome from the front of house people, even being guided into a parking space in the rather restricted car park. A very promising start to the evening.

Scenery required is minimal for both plays, just four flats and minimal furniture and props - ideal when you are settling into a new venue. Good lighting and sound were provided by Cliff Mullins and Ben White from an impressive looking portable technical desk at the back of the hall. Each play requires a cast of two men and two woman and co-directors Pam Phipps and Rick Tovery have chosen their actors well.

“Lockdown in Little Grimley” is particularly pertinent, being about a village drama group restarting after Covid and trying to guarantee a good audience so that they can raise money for the NHS. David Tristram is a reliable purveyor of comedies to the amdram world and this, his latest offering, is among the best with jokes aplenty and a cleverly constructed plot. John Morris was totally convincing as the doggedly determined Chairman of the group, who will put on his play come what may. Toni Tovery was delightfully dotty as the timid librarian and secretary of the society who has a dyslexic eye and can’t spell! Julie Williams gave a great performance as the world-weary actress who won’t consider a role unless it shows her in a good light, and Garry Hutchings was spot on as Bernard, the backstage member of the group who has been hit hard by the lockdown. David Tristram must have been a member of a committee for the accuracy of the way he portrayed the members continually straying away from the subject and needing to be made to focus. All amdram committee members will recognise the characters here. However, despite their constant bickering, they all showed that they really do care for each other when Bernard has a suspected heart attack.

“A Jolly Sinister Jape” is a delightfully bonkers comedy set in the 1920s where, due to a thunderstorm and a collapsed bridge, three strangers are thrown together in a house, only to be locked in by a woman intent on murder. Each actor was perfect in their part. Georgia Davies gave a great portrayal of Ophelia, a successful actress reluctantly still married to nice but dim Biffy (good characterisation by Stuart Dickenson.) She quickly falls in love with a complete stranger, Lord Stubbs, who is not all he seems – a perfectly oily Dene Woods. They are all held prisoner by Ophelia (‘Fatty’) Parsons – a strong performance by Amy Gould. The play abounds with hilarious names (Deidre Sausagemeat will be a lasting memory), outrageous non-pc innuendos and quick-fire comedy that the cast delighted in delivering. A great pace and good ‘posh’ accents were maintained throughout. I’ve never heard of British born American playwright Elliot Strange before, but I will be looking out for his work in the future.

Highbury Players, you have made an impressive start in your new home and given us two very polished comedies that undoubtedly delighted the last night audience. Here’s to your next 60 years!

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