COMMUNICATING DOORS
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Alan Carpenter
The Cast:
Poupee:
  
Alison Burton
Ruella:
 
Heather Carpenter
Julian:
  
Paul Goldsmith
Reece (elder):
  
Roger Hales
Reece (younger)):
  
David Percival
Jessica:
  
Sydney Vanatta-Treloar
Harold:
  
Pete Harrold


Central Hall, Wymondham, Norfolk.
16-19th November 2011

Firstly to say what an innovative and clever set designed by David Paternoster, it was ideal for the action but above all so very good on the technical side with the cupboard ‘tardis’ which worked brilliantly as did the lighting and sound, when needed; furnishings and props good and a bathroom much better than mine at home!

The casting was first rate: excellent roles to expand and capitalise on for Julian, Poupay, Ruella, and Harold.
The time warps and changes were well managed and the characters morphed between the periods with ease: the tension built up to a great level even though theoretically we knew what happened but the changes in story line kept us on the edge of the seat throughout the play and we could not imagine the ending, this was a thriller to involve all participating and watching.



Paul Goldsmith as Julian was a very nasty piece of work with his threatening manipulation and determination to dominate through murder and to gain every prize; would not want to stay in a room with him and quite understand why Poupay was terrorised by him: a superb realisation of her fear and horror of being drawn into the plot, Alison Burton had the character taped and went on to be persuaded to be a strong support in the action.



A magnificent portrayal of Ruella from Heather Carpenter, really the lynch pin and centre of the plot with her disbelief turning to realisation and her fight to turn the tables, a huge amount of dialogue to learn, the pace really up to speed so as not to lose any of the building tension, fear or resolution.

The third female in the plot, Sydney Vanetta-Treloar as Jessica (first wife) gave a credible portrayal of the honeymoon bride (and again in final scene), good to see a young new-comer in the cast.

Roger Hales as Reece had the double character styles to portray as dying (and confessing) husband plus the mellow father-figure at the end, nice portrayals. And the security man Harold (Peter) who flitted through 2030, 2010, and 1990 and back, a solid character who could be relied upon to sort out problems even if not certain that he should.

I can’t remember such an intense evening in many play viewings, and of course we had the Ayckbourn humour to temper the thriller, many congratulations on such an excellent production.

- Sue Dupont. NODA