Wymondham Players Performed at
Central Hall, Wymondham. 20th - 23rd April
2016
Review by Sue Dupont
WYMONDHAM PLAYERS - WE HAPPY FEW
Director Heather Carpenter
Central Hall, Wymondham. 22 April
Certainly an excellent directorial debut (crossing from the acting
side for Heather).
As expected, when the set design is in the very capable hands of David
Paternoster and team, all worked extremely well on the technical side
and certainly the revolve helped immensely (and cut down time) with
the 17 scene changes.
The Artemis Players (based on real-life Osiris Players) really were
such a strong team element, each bringing out a well-rounded and
thought out developed characterisation and showing the strength of the
group with seven excellent portrayals (as it says in programme
‘Calendar Girls with Clothes’). Leading the team with no allowances
for any weakness, carrying forward the entertainment group to triumph,
but with that ‘social’ feel of sympathy and encouragement, Tabi
Paternoster as Hetty was a tower of strength and full-on character in
a role that was a gift for her (and the asides of letters to the front
given with great feeling). Very well supported in all efforts
throughout in the group, and without whom suspect it would have fallen
through, the hidden strength of Flora (Tracey Hobbs) well maintained
in a good character study. A true ‘trouper’ in Wendy Ellis as Helen,
the ‘professional’ in her drinking leading player role as she managed
to fool the audience of her state of injury and take to centre stage.
The relationship with daughter Rosalind (Kimberley Ridgeon) in the
various spats worked well for both throughout, and the relationship of
daughter with Charlie (Collen Giacomelli) interesting, and how the
development of confidence came over in Charlie. And no lack of
confidence in Becky Davies portrait of Jocelyn. And with accent firmly
in place throughout, the comedy timing perfect, the raw and naïve
feelings to the forefront and relationships gaining in confidence with
that script, Leanne Neave as Ivy (of broken china) had such a great
role to realise in this play.
Attached to the seven and an integral part of Artemis, excellent
characterisations from the Rosenbaums: Georgette Vale as Gertrude on
piano with no reservations about any possible relationships with her
son Joseph played by John Harrod, the refugee Germanic attitude strict
and the German strong, but he came through on the love and sentiment
side and converted the feeling in finale. And one should not forget
Reggie, husband of Flora and pourer of oil on troubled waters, Peter
Harrod and his Rolls Royce played an important role in the
proceedings.
Support from the many smaller roles which kept the story moving
through the tour of Britain throughout the war gave many small
character studies in wardrobe, ministry, at auditions, and in towns
(loved pompous mayor from David Paternoster) to augment to a cast of
eighteen which is a good size cast for a play. Well done the Artemis
Players and the support team, this was a Britain of resolute
patriotism, and congratulations to this team.
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