Association of Community Theatre

A FESTIVAL OF FUN

St Joseph’s Players

Directors Katherine Roberts & Gabrielle Fitzsimons

 

This Festival of fun came in two one act dramas written by society member, the late Dorothy Galvin. To set the scenes Dorothy Galvin’s daughter came in front of tabs and gave a thumbnail history of her Mother’s life in theatre, and St Joseph’s Players.

 

Dorothy, we were told, wrote and directed many plays for the group. The two that were to be performed were written for the then celebrated local drama festival.

 

Life has such a rich tapestry of interesting individuals. The author based these writings on people she knew. Comedy is such a difficult area in which to work as, what is funny today, can sometimes not be as appealing when revisited. There are many formulae that can work again and again,  Mrs Brown’s Boys physical humour, for example, can be traced back to Laurel and Hardy, and will always get a laugh, I think.

 

Staging was carried out as if it were at a drama festival, when a group is given a time limit by which set their productions. Stage settings, and relevant props were played against blacks. The lighting was straight forward, and the cast wore body mic’s (although I am not quite sure why).

 

The first play “Per Adua Ad Astra” is set is the staff room of Chillingsworth Primary School. It tells the story of a disastrous day at the school when everything that could go wrong went wrong (rather in the style of Ray Cooney or David Croft).

 

There was an array of colourful characters giving plenty of scope for the actors. Every school has its caretaker/odd job man. Colin Magenty knows how to time a line, and how to use the space between the words. His partner in comedy delivery was Margaret Hall, playing teacher, Madge Tipple. Another member of staff is Lily Harris made brought to life by Angela Grime. There were a number of other characters that came in and out, adding layer upon layer to the unfolding the situation, all of which added to the comedy mix. In charge of all this mayhem is the headmaster.  As the head, John Melody, Keith Hindley displayed the character’s initial control and then leading to his eventual collapse owing  to the “explosive” situation.

 

The topic for the second play, “A Funny Thing Happened”, opens on a dress rehearsal of a play in preparation for a drama festival. This presentation found the audience’s funny bone. “Luvvie” director Mr. Desmond (Colin Magenty) had to create performers from his cast of would be thespians. Not unlike “Stepping Out” each character brought their diverse personalities to the rehearsal.

 

There were the two Roman Centurions, Lucius and Flavius, (Luke Ellam and Andy Garvey). Making decisions whether a make-up stick No 5 or a No 9 was best. The Wife and Mother (Kay Unsworth and Joanna Yates) of Nero, gave gravitas to their comedy personas. And who could forget Jim in his wellies, as Nero (Karl Gerrard)?

 

Once again the support cast proved the importance of team work. The laughter rang out as the chaos was unleashed on the audience.

 

Both scripts were well presented and performed. It is such a shame that some comedy doesn’t always hit the mark with an audience.