THE SECRET of a successful production lies first and foremost in the script, and Neil Simon’s wonderfully funny comedy set around an anniversary party is up there with the best of them. Nevertheless, it needs tender loving care to bring it to life, and that is something the Players had clearly lavished upon it in abundance under Marion Watson’s expert direction, ensuring that spot-on timing brought out the humour in every line and action.
From the moment the curtains parted, the thoughtful, well-acted performances, excellent costumes and fine set made the evening a real joy – which was unintentionally added to whenever the on-stage telephone rang, producing a strange sound akin to a parrot with laryngitis trying to do an impression of a chainsaw.
The oddball party guests were given strong characterisations by Lyn Richell – in a superb study in well-judged tipsiness -, Peter Fereday, Sarah Long, Gary Paine, John Pemble, Val Mantle and George Fuller. In particular, Estelle Hughes’ character was so delightfully ‘off the planet’ that the memory of her performance is one I shall treasure for a long time. The cast was completed by Peter Watson as an impressively bemused police officer, and Hayley Reachill as his assistant.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo.