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Show: Quartet
Society: Grayshott Stagers
Venue: Grayshott Village Hall, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6TZ
Credits: Ronald Harwood
Type: Sardines
Author: Nigel Dams
Performance Date: 16/11/2017
Quartet
Nigel Dams | 17 Nov 2017 20:40pm
The astute reader will know that Quartet is for four actors, but Grayshott, under the inventive Brezetta Thonger added a few supporting players to fill out the background of the retirement home in which the action is set. This could have ended badly, but it didn’t, the supporting cast providing amusing silent vignettes throughout without being obtrusive or distracting.
Obviously almost all the speaking is done by the four principals, and when the play first appeared in Guildford in 1999 the critics said things like ‘the script could be an inert embarrassment if performed by less accomplished players’. Lucky Grayshott, then, in having four very accomplished players of their own, because the script danced and sparkled through a couple of hours that seemed to flash past, they were so entertaining.
Bernard Whelan is one of the best actors in the district and had me laughing out loud again and again with his priapic comments superbly timed. Ellis Nichols had fewer laugh lines, but brought a fine pathos to his part, drawing the viewer in sympathy to his occasional violations of the inmates unofficial motto of ‘NSP – (no self-pity)’
The third of the three was Susie Gow, whom I’d never seen before but would happily watch again. She was delightful as the slightly dotty, slightly forgetful, kind-hearted Cissy, with her own spot-on timing and hilarious facial contortions.
The fourth part, the acerbic, conceited, brilliant Jean Horton was played in the movie by the Dame Who Must Be Revered and I suppose most amateurs (are we still allowed to say that?) would be daunted by that. Not the fabulous Sarah Wilson-Soppit though. She always brings poise, diction, character and Game worthy of a professional to her parts, and she didn’t disappoint here.
Between the four of them they produced a sparkling champagne of an evening that was very funny, poignant, intriguing, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining.
The set designers and builders deserve congratulations too, it looked great – sound and light too was very well done.
The show opens 16th November at Grayshott Village Hall and runs until Saturday. If you get a chance, go and see it, you won’t be sorry.
- : admin
- : 16/11/2017