Three One-Act Plays (2003)

Three times the fun

Compton Players chose three very diverse one act plays for their Spring production. The first, Bill and Bob, written and directed by H Connolly, a member of the Players, was a study of two couples’ relationships.
Well written, funny and dramatic, it explored complex themes within the couples lives. Art reflects life they say, and sometimes the dialogue was explicit, but the actors equipped themselves well and were well rehearsed. Tom (Mike Long), Bill (Dave Hawkins), Maureen (Mary Warrington), Jane (Tracey Pearce) and H Connolly are to be congratulated on engaging and effective piece of original theatre.

The second act brought us Green Favours by Frank Vickery, a two hander, with Mark Bailey and Brenda Prior as Tom and Valerie, brought together in the unlikely setting of an allotment shed. Tom has persuaded the gardening club to accept Valerie as its first femail member. Tom has left his wife, however, and has more than gardening on his mind. In the charged atmosphere of a thunderstorm, complete with a rain lashed window, the characters work through their mutual attraction to a ‘what the hell’ final clinch. With a super set and effects, the actors portrayed their roles well under the direction of Tracey Pearce.

In total contrast, the final play was Pyramus and Thisbe, an extract from A Midsummer NIght’s Dream by William Shakespeare. It was a delightful cosutmed piece, directed by Eric Saxton, in which The Court were entertained by the players in a highly humorous version of Pyramus and Thisbe. The Court was Ian Hickling and Enid Farr as a commanding Theseus and Hippolyta and Paul Shave as Philostrate. The players were Eric Saxton as the rustic Prologue, Nick Roberts as the hammy Pyramus, Jasmine Gartshore as Thisbe, Faye McGeehin as Wall, Peter Whitworth as Moonshine and Michael Sheperia as Lion.

The evening lived up to its title of an Entertainment Triple Bill, and all three plays were well received by the Compton audience.

TREVOR DOBSON