| Key for Twoby
John Chapman and Dave Freeman |
| Review by
Nicholas Barker |
| On March 15th 1986 the curtain
rose to reveal the opening scene of Stock Drama Group's production of "Key for
Two", by John Chapman and Dave Freeman, produced by Babs Barnes. |
| After some rather hasty dialogue
in the opening scenes where a few more "dramatic pauses" could have been
inserted, the play settled down and one could now sit back and laugh with
ease. |
| Mary Cole gave a very confident
and credible performance as the cunning and crooked Harriet, a three timer with
amazing organisational skills and a fictionally helpless mother -a scapegoat
for any situation. |
| Harriet's "live in" lovers,
Gordon and Alec, (Tom Griffin and Les Butler respectively) gave equally good
support and carried the complicated plot smoothly onwards. The courageously
contrasting accent of Mr. Butler was pleasing to hear, but until the entry of
Joy Leighton (his wife Mildred, in the play) it was only then made clear that
he wasn't an Italian Jew living in Huntingdon after all! |
| Meg Stratford as Anne was as
reliable as ever and with her portrayal of "Nurse", with such throw away lines
as, "I'll just see who's popped off in geriatrics", she had the audience in
stitches. |
| The entry of her alcoholic
husband, Richard (Bob Nafzger) lifted any remaining stolid atmosphere, and from
this point on, the laughter just couldn't be restricted. |
| Magda, Gordon's dominating and
spoilt wife, was perfectly portrayed by Olive Bartella, though I can hardly
believe she qualifies as Mary Cole's mother, as was suggested in the
script. |
| All the actors coped
marvellously with the demands put upon them by the play (the unflinching Meg
Stratford removed her clothing as calmly as peeling a banana!) and great credit
must be given to Babs Barnes, the producer, and all those behind the scenes for
making "Key for Two" the most enjoy able entertainment to emerge from Stock for
some years - though isn't it about time some new faces appeared on the scene?
Nicholas Barker |
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| Cast Members |
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| Production Team |
| Prompt |
To come |
| Stage Manager |
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| Lighting &
Sound |
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| Back Stage |
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| Photography |
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Production Stills to come
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