Follow us on:-

2007 Productions:-

Trivial Pursuits by Frank Vickery - directed by Gwen Peplow and Chris Wright

Critic's Comments
:- (Contd)

Finally  Although I appear to have made a long string of criticisms, you nevertheless had a successful production, with a nearly full house, and you can therefore be satisfied. My remarks are intended to be helpful pointers for the future. You seem to have plenty of talent and enthusiasm - all that seems to be lacking is some of that wonderful product "Oomph".
Keep up the good work.
As a final thought, why do amateur actors find it so difficult to play amateur actors on the stage? An intriguing question."         
              Ian Crisp-North West Essex Theatre Guild

---------------------

"Some garden fence/trellising a few items of garden furniture, a drinks trolley and barbecue provided the visual setting in which this play unfolded. The action all revolved around the internal politicking within an amateur musical theatre group and as the play  progressed it became clear that each of the characters had a particular reason to want to influence Nick, the director, about the choice of show and the particular part they could play in it. Each of the classic stereotypes was represented including the all-powerful director, the aspiring choreographer, the camp leading man, the drunken and oversexed female lead that had seen better days, the bore going through separation, the young vamp prepared to sleep with the director for a lead role and assorted hangers on. After a slow start that involved just half of the cast playing charades the pace picked up as more characters appeared on stage, the plot thickened and the comedy lines came faster and faster. By the second act the audience was hooting with laughter.  Although several of the characters had genuinely funny lines the majority were delivered by Teddy, in a hilarious performance throughout, who managed to play camp without mincing.  Here was a sharply-observed role that combined superb comic timing with accurate delivery.  The second act visual humour involving Deidre kneeling in front of Teddy, her head hidden beneath his apron, was hilarious and the sight of Derek, the boring husband, stumbling across this tranquil garden scene was priceless. Derek and Deidre complemented each other well as the separated couple with different goals in life and Derek's vain attempts to shake off his boring persona, culminating in the John Wayne walk and the mangled joke were great fun. Joyce played the drunk who had lost her self-confidence in a controlled way, difficult to do since most drunks overact. Mona delivered her put downs with ice cold precision and Nick successfully negotiated the many relationships he had unwittingly formed in just two hours, as marriage guidance counsellor, caring son, cheating husband and overall amateur director of musicals.  The remaining characters had less to say but contributed nevertheless to an enjoyable evening at the theatre."           
     Stewart Adkins-National Operatic and Dramatic Association

Return to beginning of this play critics comments

Return to top