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Chip off the block Opus Theatre, Lichfield Garrick Studio
ROGER Hallam is a newly promoted high
flying executive, his wife Jenny is broody- very - while Roger's retired
father David is grumpy and friend Claire is pregnant – again. Then into their lives comes 20-year-old American
Drew and nothing will ever be the same again. Rugeley actor and writer Gerry Hinks
manages to create believable characters for his farce about mistaken
intentions and like all farces reality takes a back seat as
misunderstandings take on lives of their own. Alan Birch is down to earth as the new Vice
President (UK) Roger, promoted beyond his and everyone else's
expectations, while Alyson Joynes exudes all the frustrations of a
housewife with a racing biological clock as Jenny, the wife who wants a
family . . . now. Helping and hindering in equal measure is Opus
regular Keith Minshull, a man whose face seems in a constant battle
against smiles, as the suitably grumpy retired surgeon, David. He has just returned from a fortnight in Cyprus,
luggage hopefully to follow, having gone away on the basis that his
holiday might provide some nudge, nudge, wink, wink quality time for his
son and Jenny to perhaps take some steps towards the next generation of
Hallams.
Miriam Edwards as friend Claire brings a bubbly,
flirtatious sparkle as well as giving Jenny living proof of what she
wants – in the shape of a bright blue beacon in her pregnancy testing
kit. Into all this comes Drew, the young American who
wants to rush out for a bowler, briefcase, brolly and briar (it was
really just a pipe but I'm a sucker for a bit of alliteration) so he
will fit right in in England. Toby-Alexander Smith manages to keep his American
accent largely under control, never the easiest thing to do, as the
brash young American with the dark, or maybe, in the warm light of day,
not so dark, secret which in turn sakes a few more skeletons out of
cupboards to join the party. The play's opening run at Lichfield ends 21-05-11
and it then moves on to The Gatehouse, Stafford on Wednesday, May 25. Roger Clarke |
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