Wymondham Players November 2016
production
'See How They Run'
by
Philip King
Performed at
Central Hall, Wymondham. 23rd - 26th November
2016
Left to right: The Intruder - Alan Carpenter; The Bishop of Lax - Bob
McClenning; Penelope Toop - Becky Davis;
Sergeant Towers - Ian
McDonald; Lionel Toop - Pete Harrold; Rev Arthur Humphrey - Kevin
Oelrichs;
Lance Corporal Clive Winton - David Percival
Director:
Amanda Oelrichs. Producer: Wendy Ellis
The Cast: (in
order of appearance)
Ida (the maid): Cathy Rix
Miss Skillon: Heather Carpenter
The Reverend Lionel Toop: Pete Harrold
Penelope Toop (his wife):
Becky Davis
Lance Corporal Clive Winton: David Percival
The
Intruder: Alan Carpenter
The BIshop of Lax: Bob McClenning
The
Reverend Arthur Humphrey: Kevin Oelrichs
Sergeant Towers: Ian
McDonald
 |
| (Above) The 'rough and tumble' on the
carpet |
 |
| "I want my uniform" demands
Clive (above) |
 |
| "Heil Hitler" The German then hits Lionel with a poker as Miss Skillon
slumbers in a drunken stupor (above) |
 |
| "Take me away"
Miss Skillon demands of Arthur Humphrey |
Review - By Sue Dupont
Thank you very
much for the invitation to see Wymondham Players in ‘See How
They Run’,
a truly classic farce and how well the company presented to the
audience.
Amanda
Oelrichs certainly took control of the situations in strict and fine
style with
excellent
pace and no let-up throughout the action: this is what farce has to be
and we were
not
disappointed in the speed of dialogue or action, or any of the comedy
timing.
An
excellent set with good period feel really gave a good acting space
for all the
antics,
entrances all ideal for the piece, and that cupboardl, dressings and
costumes
appropriate to set off actions throughout.
The
casting could not be faulted and to find six such ideal males for
their parts is a
compliment
to the group, plus those three perfectly cast females, congratulations
on having
a wide
field to choose from in the company.
lda, the
maid, Cathey Rix was a great character role, full of cheek, helping
with
plotting
and missing some situations and messing up, really something to bring
out all the
comedy.
But the ‘laughter-plus‘ and OTT character really has to be Miss
Skillon, what a
wonderful
role for Heather Carpenter, the shocked and hurt parishioner, those
drunken
sequences,
the total commitment to timing and comedy and bringing out every last
nuance
and the
exaggeration of situations and misunderstandings throughout, this was
a
performance to relish. And as the ex-actress, glamorous vicars wife,
Becky Davis was
perfect
for Penelope with her style and accent and sweeping away of all
stuffiness
regardless
of what happens in the plot. These three exemplary in their roles.
Pete
Harrold as Lionel really had the losing ticket with concert and wife
and visiting
bishop and
all the exchange of clothing and particularly all that running around
from entrance
to exit,
his timing and delivery so good. The appearance of David Percival as
Clive, and the
problems
of uniform, plus the acting from previous days just added to the
mayhem of action.
Add a very
dignified but surprised Bishop by Bob McClenning, and how does he cope
with
his visit
and strange twists. Another visiting vicar, Humphrey from Kevin
Oelrichs, who
looked
suitably bewildered by all going on around him. And the clothes
exchange by the
intruder
Alan Carpenter, and his menacing on the situation, just added to the
fun. These
characters
well drawn and developed by the men. What with all those chases so
beautifully
timed and
the sight of four vicars in a row, no wonder that Sergeant Towers (lan
McDonald)
was
surprised.
Certainly
the action on stage was manic at times in a proper farce with
brilliant timing,
congratulations to all on the fantastic team-work, and certain that
the rehearsals must have
been
hysterical.
WYMONDHAM PLAYERS - 'SEE HOW THEY RUN' by Philip King
Performed at
Central Hall, Wymondham. 23rd-26th November
2016
