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Waiting in the wings

Author: Susan DuPont

Information

Date
26th July 2012
Society
Mundesley Players
Venue
Coronation Hall, Mundesley
Type of Production
Play
Director
Jean Clarke

Noel Coward’s ‘Waiting in the Wings’, and what an inspired choice of play for the company (Samuel French 14 F, 4M), and how good to see the return of many former members who thought that they might have retired, but their talents were needed. An excellent set: difficult on your small stage to place requirements of French doors (functional), sofa, piano (functional), and so many chairs needed for the inmates of The Wings Retirement Home for Actresses. And the pleasure of all that Noel Coward music to set the scene and to cover for costume and props changes, kept up the ‘feel good’ factor of style and period. 
Director Jean Clarke chose wisely in her casting and utilised the many talents of her cast and exploited all the characterisations to the full as she drew together the plot and the varying relationships and jealousies and problems with ‘the management committee’. This play balanced out the ‘mainly male’ production of ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ as the previous offering from the group, and both plays showed the widespread talents within group (along with your annual pantomime). 
How can one mention one ‘prima donna actress’ above others in this cast where all were rounded and stylised in performance and dialogue, truly the ‘Master’ gave such opportunity to all: the peacemaker Bonita of Lyndsey King, the sharp contrast in critical Cora of Joan Bowers, the tears and wish for the solarium from the Estelle of Cheryl Collings, that wonderful Irish actress Deidre of Marese Farrell, the army efficiency of Miss Archibald from Pat Bryant, the asperity of May Davenport from Judy Ellson and the feud with Lotta Bainbridge of Pam Tidd, and that change in relationship and softening as they resolve the quarrel. Loved Jo Oxborough as Maud and how great to have a retired professional singer to play (and sing) with such style. One should not forget that there were some men in the cast! What a find in young and good-looking heart-throb to old ladies, Christon Sharpe as Perry, certainly he could sort out the problems in running the home; and a delightful cameo character role for Ian Cashmore as the loyal and regular visitor with the violets, Mr Osgood Meeker. And of course, the young, dynamic, girl-on-the-make, newspaper executive Zelda Fenwick (Tracey Loftus) who stirred up trouble but paid her debts in style. All the roles within this play added to the completeness and feel-good factor of the evening.

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