ON-CUE Review - Amateur Drama East Dorset - Billy Liar - Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society

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BILLY LIAR
Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society
Ringwood School Theatre
Ringwood
November 2004

BILLY Fisher does what many of us do from time to time, which is to retreat into a fantasy world that bears little resemblance to reality. It’s a good way to get through a boring life, particularly if you’re an undertaker’s clerk, as he is – but Billy’s problem is that he finds it hard to embrace reality at all.
Director Sheryle Daniels entrusted this pivotal role in Keith Waterhouse’s excellent play to newcomer Philip Turner, whose stage experience is negligible. But this is one young man whose head is certainly not in the clouds, and he came up trumps with a super performance that highlighted his character’s personality to perfection.
True, his Yorkshire accent, like that of most of the cast, was not immediately identifiable – but the comedy’s the thing, and everyone certainly made the most of that.
Rosemary Guy, who is in danger of cornering the market in batty old ladies, was outstanding as Billy’s gran, Mrs Boothroyd, while Chris Grant and Simon Sketchley were just right as his exasperated parents. And there were lovely characterisations too from Ali Titcombe, Rachel Eales and Hannah White as his various girlfriends, and from Tom Perren as his workmate, Arthur.
Smashing set and props too.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo