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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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This is a plan that works a treat Game Plan Grange Players Grange Playhouse, Walsall ***** AN INSPIRED company ensures that the night goes by on wings - although on the first night the final curtain came a little later than had been expected. There were, indeed, some
protracted unscheduled longueurs, presumably because of costume changes
- but who cared?
Tomos Frater has given us a production that
lifts the heart. Alan Ayckbourn has presented us with an apartment
alongside the Thames, occupied by a mother struggling to afford her
surroundings now that her husband has abandoned her, and a daughter who
comes to her assistance in a practical but totally unexpected way -
aided and abetted by her school friend, for whom life suddenly becomes a
no-holds-barred nightmare. And it's a delight. Martin Groves has designed an
inspirational set, with huge glass doors opening on to the balcony that
overlooks the river, beyond which is a skyline that embraces St Paul's
and The Gherkin. One of those sets, in fact, that makes me regret that
it is rare these days to walk into an auditorium and see closed curtains
- because having the scene laid out before us as we enter in penny
numbers means that the designer is deprived of the spontaneous applause
that would otherwise have responded to the eventual revelation.
As is so often the case, however, the company has been
given the set it deserves. Christina Peak excels as the hard-pressed
mother to whom the eventual arrival of the police comes as a bewildering
shock - she having no idea of just how enterprising her daughter has
been. Josephine Rattigan is daughter Sorrel - loving if a
mite tempestuous; strong, decisive - and supported to the hilt by her
friend Kelly (Aimee Hall). Kelly is the initially reluctant ally in Sorrel's
startling scheme - and she is splendid. She is wonderfully awkward when
her new role demands that she attires herself as a French maid in a
rebellious ra-ra skirt and totters haplessly on heels that give no
quarter, and she puts on a fine panic when Sorrel's first customer
arrives. The client is Robert Onions, who has the almost
immediate responsibility of launching into a mammoth monologue about his
problems on his arrival, and who does so with aplomb. Adam Worton is the policeman who misdirects a fine
turn of rage at Sorrel's hapless mother, Abigail Quiney is a joy as the
policewoman who can't stop quoting the Bible, and Richard Aucott brings
further problems as an unexpected visitor. It's another winner for the Players. To 18.10. John Slim
Plan B . . . ***** IT'S been a long time since so much
instinctive laughter and regular bursts of applause echoed round the
Grange, but the cast in this very funny Alan Ayckbourn play deserve the
acknowledgement. They are quite superb in the story of how 16-year-old
schoolgirl, Sorrel Saxon, draws up a desperate plan in an effort to
prevent her deserted mother having to leave their comfortable London
Docklands apartment and move out of the capital. Sounds heart-breaking, but there is so much humour in
the play as Sorrel, brilliantly played by Josephine Rattigan, persuades
her school pal, Kelly Butcher, to help her become an online prostitute
to pull in some cash after discovering how successful an expelled pupil
has already been on the game. Aimee Hall is a hoot as Kelly who, when asked to
purchase condoms, arrives with a bumper box of 200, then dresses as a
French maid to welcome any clients while Mrs Lynette Saxon (Christina
Peak) is out at work. The situation becomes hilarious when the rather timid
first customer, Leo Tyler (Robert Onions), is more interested in talking
about his late wife than getting down to business, and then suffers a
heart attack. Lovely contributions, too, from Adam Worton as the
bossy Scottish detective Dan Endicott, and Abigail Quiney, the
Bible-quoting policewoman, Grace Page, who are convinced the mother is
the hooker. Directed by Tomas Frater, Game Plan runs to
Saturday September 18. The stunning set, designed by Martin Groves, includes
full length sliding doors giving a view over the Thames to the dramatic
skyline, including the Gherkin building, the roof of St Paul's and a
train gliding by. Paul Marston |
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