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SAND CASTLES
Poulner Players
Church Hall
Poulner
May 2003

THE Players seem to have a knack of choosing the right show for the weather – I still remember the year when an on-stage thunderstorm was replicated outside – so it seems appropriate that this production, excellently directed by Sally Whyte, should have opened just as summer seems to have begun.
Bob Larbey’s hilarious comedy centres round two beach hut-owning families and the various ‘undesirables’ who contrive both wittingly and unwittingly to spoil their fortnight in the sun. The production had so much going for it, not least a wonderfully realistic set complete with beach huts, sand, seagulls and paraphernalia galore. And the seaside feel even extended to front-of-house staff resplendent in holiday gear and a striped gazebo outside to sit under with interval drinks.
The pace never flagged and there were lovely performances all round, especially from John Turpin and Gwen Henson as the genteel Pattersons, Peter Ansell as head of the would-be classy Billets, June Buxton as his mother and Steve Russell as happy-go-lucky Doug. And I certainly wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of the three stroppy women (played all-too convincingly by Judith Kemp, Marian Benson and Harriet Cairnes) who set up their wind-break in front of the beach huts.
Perhaps I’ll stay at home this summer.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

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