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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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Death by Design
Sutton Arts Theatre
**** SUTTON Arts produce several productions a
year. Inevitably that swallows up the well- known plays at a rate of
knots. So a pleasing
by-product of their prolific performance schedule is that they have to
unearth lesser known plays from time to time to keep the production line
rolling. Death by Design
is one such show. Written by Massachusetts born, and America
resident, playwright Rob Urbanati, the author’s Anglophilia is
manifested by this pastiche of great British crime writer Agatha
Christie, and great British gentleman, Noel Coward. Death by Design was premiered in Houston,
Texas, in 2011 but the ending was rewritten in 2013, so it is a pretty
contemporaneous homage. The drama is set in 1932 in Cookham, England, the
country home of playwright Edward Bennett (Richard Clarke) and his,
flighty, man-eating, actress wife, Sorel (Hellie England). It is a
volatile marriage in which barbed badinage and missiles are equal
weapons of choice. Co-Directors Hazel Evans and Mavis Atkinson took
on the responsibility after the original director became unavailable,
and have done a first-rate job at bringing it to the stage, bringing
their considerable, and formidable, experience to bear. Fortunately,
they have a strong cast to work with. Anne Dempsey as Maid Bridget, and George Wyton,
as Chauffeur Jack, make a fine double act and open proceedings on a
well- dressed, single set, stage, which is a credit to Colin Edge and
his set team. Anne Dempsey is a delight as the Maid who doesn’t
want to clean, make tea, take guest’s coats, or undertake any maid’s
duties whatsoever, even resorting to growling to deter any such
impertinent requests. Yet her knowledge of poisonous plants and murder
seems positively encyclopaedic while George Wyton’s convinces as a
charming jack-the-lad with a heart. The other double act are Mr and Mrs Bennett.
Richard Clarke’s care worn, urbane, characterisation is the perfect foil
for Hellie England, who has by far the most fun. Looking stunning in a
full length, sleeveless, halter neck amethyst evening gown, she preened
and pouted, and even snapped a cocktail glass stalk in her dedication to
the cause. Allen Lane played sleazy, adulterer, Tory
Politician Walter Pearce with unctuous ease, wooing Sorel Bennett in the
first half, and laying dead for the second. His opposite, socialist
guest Eric (Nick Shelton), made the best of a slightly underwritten
part. Anne Deakin (Victoria Van Roth) by contrast had more to do,
growing more inebriated, and funny, as the evening progressed, without
losing her accuracy in any way when throwing the dregs of her drink at
her host while demanding a refill. The appearance of Libby Allport, as
Alice, was a nice plot twist. The cast consistently raised laughter with some
good lines, and enthusiastic character acting making for an enjoyable
night out. Urbanati’s Death by Design does not reach the heights
of those whom he wishes to parody. But who does beat Christie for murder
plots, or Coward for playing with the foibles of the British upper
class? Hazel Evans and Mavis Atkinson have done a sterling job to
squeeze the very best out of the script, as have the cast. Death by
Design runs to Saturday 6th February. Gary Longden
28-01-16 |
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