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Wedding of the Year

Author: Peter Breach

Information

Date
29th September 2017
Society
Heckington Players Amateur Dramatic Society
Venue
Heckington Village Hall
Type of Production
Play
Director
Stuart Wyle

 Heckington Players have been performing an extensive range of shows since 1986 and this comedy, one of many penned by the late Norman Robbins, was their first production since becoming members of NODA. It is quite a long play containing many words which had been well learned and were competently delivered with good timing by the disciplined cast of ten. An agreeable pace was maintained throughout.

The principal character, one  Alison Murchinson (played to great effect by Amy Ash) who sees herself as overweight, plain, unattractive, wears spectacles to correct her short sightedness and is more interested in food than finding a boy-friend - no wonder she has a sad outlook on life! Alison’s mother, Ethel (caringly played by Mel Priestly) is most concerned for her daughter’s future happiness and would love to see her married. However, she receives little encouragement or support from her jealous friend, Peggy Ramskill (played by Niki Thompson), who makes frequent barbed comments comparing Alison’s situation with that of her own daughter who is to be married. Thankfully, Frank Edwards, Ethel’s brother and uncle to Alison (played by Godfrey Barlow) has a plan; he suggests that despite no one having been yet identified as the groom, Alison’s marriage should be entered for “Wedding of the year” competition being organised by the local newspaper. Prior to the wedding Matilda Murchinson and Honoria Murchinson, Alison’s great aunts, (played by Jackie Taylor-Johnson and Jo Cheyne) call to offer their congratulations; their hilarious conversations consist of nothing but proverbs. Other members of the cast were Priscilla Edwards, Ethel’s elderly aunt (played by Helen Gordon), who lives upstairs and makes selective use of the on/off switch of her hearing aid. Harry Elphinstone, famous dress designer and friend of Frank. Walter Thornton, Ethel’s neighbour who would like them to get more involved (played by Julian Warrick), and Melvyn Thornton, Walter’s son (energetically played by Callum Thursby); Melvin, a hapless young inventor has yet to devise something useful.

This play was written in 1977 and was set in that decade with the décor and costumes replicated from the styles of that period. Oh yes, I remember them well! The laughter throughout the play and the sustained applause at the conclusion of it was well deserved – congratulations to all who were involved.

 

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