NODA Review June 2013
I was looking forward to an entertaining evening with this Derek Benfield farce, and I was not disappointed. The moment you walked into the Hall and saw the set you knew mayhem would soon ensue. There were four doors, a staircase and an archway leading to goodness knows where. As always with this group, the set depicting the entrance hall and reception area of a small country Hotel, had been designed and built to a very high standard, with excellent attention to detail, with reception desk/bar, chairs, fireplace, suitable pictures, and hooks for room keys. The set was very solid, as later, when a door was slammed, nothing moved. We soon learnt that the various doors led to the front of the Hotel, the dining room and kitchen, the television room and the last door to the all-important, very large, under-stairs cupboard. As with all farce the characters need to be larger than life but not over the top and Octopus certainly achieved this. The plot centres around two crooks, Fred Baxter and Charlie Mullins who have sprung Harold Spook from prison, so that he can lead them to a suitcase full of money, which he hid at the Hotel; unfortunately they have the wrong man. Add to this Hotel owner, Major Catchpole, who is more interested in his animals than the hotel; Norah, his amorous wife, who chases all the male guests, but has a particular fancy for Harold, whom she pursues relentlessly; her sister Edna, is employed as a cleaner, but steps into any role thrown at her, receptionist, cook and so on, and she is the only level headed one in the building. Then there are guests Mrs Fletcher-Brewer JP and her daughter Carol, who are enjoying a quiet country holiday. Finally more chaos is added when Polly, girlfriend of the real Harold Spook, and her elderly, hard of hearing father, arrive at the hotel. Mark Hattersley as Baxter, who had masterminded Spook’s `release’, was suitably imposing, whilst Will Titcombe as Charlie Mullins, was a likeable rogue and affable rough diamond. Pat Morrissey gave a lovely performance as the rather bemused Spooks. Ian Cornes gave us a slightly manic Major Catchpole, with very mobile eyebrows, and worked well with Jean Wallis as lively wife Norah. In contrast sister Edna, played by Sam Stillman, conveyed the air of drudgery that goes with someone who is always being `put upon’. Alison Bagnall played the domineering Justice of the Peace, Mrs Fletcher-Brewer, with a confidence that had the `crooks’ really worried, in case she Sarah Cullyer, was obviously dominated by her mother, but showed a lovely sparkle in her encounters with Charlie Mullins. Marie Stephens was well cast as `gangsters Moll’, Polly; with a lovely cameo performance from Gil Gilroy as Mr Parkinson, her father, who turns the tables on Norah, by chasing after her at the end of the play. Director Len Crayston had created a pacey, well timed romp, with believable characters, unfolding the twists and turns of the plot. The energetic and enthusiastic cast were obviously enjoying themselves and this conveyed itself to a very appreciative audience. Well done everyone on a very entertaining evening.
Director: Len Crayston Assisted by: Alison Bagnall and Nick Baskerville