Our next production will be:
The Lady Killers by Graham Linehan
Directed by Maggie Smith
Present Laughter by Noel Coward
Directed by Mike Carver
"A provocative, comical reflection on fame, desire and loneliness"
Production Review
It was so good to welcome back the Drama Group after two years without a production.
Mike Carver assembled a cast in February last year to put this play on, and we and the Group have had to wait patiently for it to come to fruition.
Mike, and his Assistant Director, Maggie Smith, are to be congratulated on tackling this piece. Noel Coward, who wrote and starred in the original production, casts such a long shadow and Connor Hughes, who played Garry (the Coward part), wisely decided against going for a pastiche, but made the part his own, tackling it with enthusiasm.
The story revolves around a few days in the life of a light comedy actor, and the various adoring women who try to attach themselves to him.
It is always difficult to single people out but whilst all the characters were well-drawn and wellperformed, I feel that three people deserve particular mention. Rachel Leung, as Monica, Garry’s very long-suffering secretary, managed to make us laugh with hardly more than a raised eyebrow.
Darrell Williams, who played the wildly eccentric Roland Maule, was both pathetic and funny, totally resisting the real danger of overplaying his part, and being rewarded with the best laughs of the evening.
Finally, Lorna Catt, who stepped into the part of the mad Swedish maid at the very last minute, behaved as though she had been doing it all her life. Well done!
As ever, the scenery was excellent, perhaps even better than the high standard we have come to expect. Loved the paintings!
It was great to have you back, everyone! Thank you for all your hard work and for being willing to give it a go and give us a very happy evening. We look forward to lots more to come. Sandra McAdam