NEVER having come across this play before, I expected it to be a gentle, undemanding comedy rather than the superb modern-day parable, albeit a highly amusing one, that it proved to be.
The story is set in a disused Methodist Chapel in which a homeless family has taken up residence, having been thrown out of their previous accommodation for failing to pay rent. The church do-gooders summon Social Services to have the family moved on, but the minister allows them to stay and in doing so learns a great deal about his own motivation in life.
This production was beautifully directed by Betty Price, and the sense of being in a real chapel was palpable thanks to an excellent set and the use of the entire hall for exits and entrances. Sarah Newman created a really genuine, feisty character in teenager Julie, fighting to keep her family together, with Victoria Gentle a wonderfully simple Pam, her sister, and Jill Saunders a delight as their gran, an ever-muttering, drink and knicker-sodden incontinent liability.
Bernard Wilson radiated gentle goodness as the minister, James, Anne Mitchell gave a strong performance as his fiancee, Sylvia, and there were convincing performances too from John Daniels as a local troublemaker, Paula Sewell as the social worker and Ann Sturgess as James’ sister.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo