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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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More, er, sex vicar?
Entertaining Angels The Grange Players Grange Playhouse, Walsall **** AT first sight the excellent set for
Richard Everett's clever play, representing a lush, peaceful vicarage
garden, suggests an evening of gentle humour with a religious flavour. As the audience arrive in the auditorium they
notice a rural smell then see a well-tended lawn rising several feet,
trees, bushes, a hedge, scores of flowers, a greenhouse, even a
meandering stream, and a rear window giving a glimpse of the home's
interior. A triumph for the play's director and producer,
Martin Groves, who also designed the perfect set, and the cast do it
justice in a performance bristling with wit, occasional anger and the
kind of revelations hardly expected at the rural home of a clergyman. Long-serving Vicar Bardolph has died and after
years of pouring gallons of tea and delivering polite chat his widow,
Grace, is suddenly free to say what she really thinks, and Julie Lomas
is totally convincing in the role. When her late husband, played by Robert Onions,
appears on stage and chats to Grace, relatives believe she is talking to
herself, but the charming scene suddenly explodes with the revelation
that the respected vicar once made love to his unmarried missionary
sister-in-law Ruth, who had a baby boy. Gwen Evans has some lovely moments explaining the
truth behind her embarrassing 'missionary position' some 30 years back,
before exiting abroad, and raises a few laughs in the opening scenes
when she darts around behind an electric lawn mower. There are several highly amusing clashes between
Ruth and her horrified sister when the dirty deed comes to light, while
Jo - the vicar's divorced daughter - does he best to try and keep the
peace. Liz Webster gives a fine performance
as psycho-therapist Jo who has had her own marital problems and suddenly
finds her mum and aunt daggers drawn over the respected Vicar's one
wicked moment in his past, which Ruth freely admits was all her fault. To add to the sexual surprises, the incoming
female vicar, Sarah, admits to a past affair with a french polisher.
Stephanie Quance is impressive as Sarah who ends up pregnant in the
final scenes after taking over the parish. Although women dominate the play, Robert Onions
gives what could be described as a spirited performance as the ghost of
departed Vicar Bardolph - better known as 'Bard' - who had died of an
apparent heart attack in his beloved garden. He appears and disappears
through various doors and at one point even pops up through a trap door
in the middle of the lawn - yet another clever feature of the set.
There are some poignant moments in his frequent meetings with Grace. Entertaining Angels (it could be called
Confessions in a Vicarage) runs to 23.03.13. Some tickets are still
available for an enjoyable show. Paul Marston |
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