The cast of One O’Clock from the House. Back is Ros White, with, front, from left, Steve White, Jenny Manning and Marilyn Bersey. Picture by Peter Boam.
STAGE REVIEW
IT WAS very difficult to predict where the humour could come from when Newchurch Drama Group opened their latest comedy with a daughter mourning the death of her elderly father.
Though it soon became clear Miriam’s (Marilyn Bersey) grief was nothing more than crocodile tears, such occasions are very rarely associated with humour.
Thankfully, One O’Clock from the House’s tense opening was effectively relieved by Tudor, (Alan Johnson), who livened things up with his somewhat strange attire and a series of gags in his strong Bristol accent.
We then meet Miriam’s sisters — the posh one, Margaret (Ros White), and the heavily pregnant, sherry-drinking Maureen (Jenny Manning), and her son, Rupert (Brandon Hanmore).
They all wrongly believe they will get the contents of their father’s will but it turns out they get nothing unless one of them cares for their crazy sister, Mavis — played by the impressive Heather Johnson. She arrives from her psychiatric care home dressed in a bright pink cardigan and with her dress tucked in to her knickers, bringing a sprinkle of welcome humour.
As the show progresses, we get to meet Mansel (Peter Ford), who thinks his trolley is a dog, Maureen’s partner, Desmond (Reuben Loake) and Hugh (Terry Pearson) the secret cider-swigging Scotsman and husband of Margaret.
The show closes with the revelation that it was the wrong Mavis and the real one is brought in by the warden (Debbie Stewart).
Directed by Derek Twine and produced by Steve White, you could see a lot of hard work had been put in by the cast.
However, some of the dialogue could have been shortened to keep the near-capacity audience captivated.
Reporter: jamiew@iwcpmail.co.uk