Show: A Bunch of Amateurs
Society: Company of Ten at Abbey Theatre
Venue: Abbey Theatre St Albans
Credits: Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
Type: Sardines
Author: Samantha Cartwright
Performance Date: 15/05/2022
A Bunch of Amateurs
Samantha Cartwright | 16 May 2022 12:44pm
Photos: Iain Robertson
A Bunch of Amateurs began as a comedy film in 2008. In 2014 it was adapted into a stage version its original writers, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. This production is being performed by Company of Ten, originally formed in 1934 at The Abbey Theatre, their permanent performance space.
Hollywood actor, Jefferson Steel, arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford, only to find out it’s not the Stratford he had in mind; it’s a small Suffolk village. Instead of well-known cast members, famous like himself, he is among a cast that are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from closure. Jefferson’s huge ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the am-dram thespians. As the actors collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he makes realisations about his own life.
This is a play within a play within in a play. The script is extremely clever, quotes from King Lear and philosophical short songs in between scenes remind us of Shakespeare’s presence in all scenarios.
This performance is directed by Angela Stone, in a very precise manor or so it appears. Each movement and conversation is slick and perfectly poised, yet still maintains natural. The stage is set so that the scene changes can be carried out without disruption to the flow. This is credit to the set design (by Dennis O’Connell-Baker), not only is the staging practical it’s aesthetically pleasing also. A slight negative would be that at points I find it difficult to hear the vocals; there are some pre recorded segments which are hilarious one-liners but they are getting lost a little bit. Also there are sound effects of paparazzi cameras clicking in the background of some conversations; whilst it gives a good impression of what is happening outside it does make it harder to hear all of the dialogue.
The acting is of a high standard, without a weak link in sight. As this script is filled with humour in many forms it requires every cast member to be able to deliver with strong comic timing and I’m pleased to see they all do. There is a sense of experience within the cast; it’s clear some of them have been treading the boards a while as they know exactly the right way to make an audience laugh out loud (this is especially true with John Pyke who plays Denis, most of this character’s humour is very visual and it is being executed in an endearing and hilarious fashion).
When asked by Jefferson why they ‘do’ am-dram, it is Mary (Katherine Barry) who replies: “To step outside our own ordinary lives, to create something bigger than ourselves, to share in the power of theatre.” As a fellow am-dram performer this line really resonates with me.