by Ian Diddams
images by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams
Whilst probably best known for his editorship of “Private Eye” magazine and thirty-five years as a team captain on the BBC’s wonderfully satirical “Have I Got News For You”, Ian Hislop has also over time turned his focus to screen and playwriting. Amongst the five plays he has co-written probably the widest known is the one that has also been made into a film which starred Burt Reynolds, “A Bunch of Amateurs”. This week the Wharf Theatre, Devizes, performs the stage play albeit without Burt Reynolds!
The general plot of the play is a simple one – ageing, fading, Hollywood ex-A lister signs up to star in Shakespeare’s “King Lear” at “Stratford” to find that in fact it isn’t the Royal Shakespeare Company he will be performing at, but a village hall one hundred and seventy miles away at “Stratford in Pigshit”, where the local amateur dramatic society are trying one last dig at surviving by attracting a celebrity to perform with them to boost ticket sales.
The play’s style and plot follows in the grandest traditions of British comedies of creating a nonsensical scenario and running with it as if it was thoroughly possible, with the usual hilarious misunderstandings, fallings-out and fallings-in along the way before a glorious finale where everything pans out perfectly and everyone is happy ever after.
Directed by Lyn Taylor, there is a delicious irony – or indeed really homage – in a play about an amateur company being put on by an amateur company… and here we can look at that label “amateur”. As an adjective to the noun “dramatics” the combined term often has a negative inference amongst many, but the reality is such consideration is to malign high standard productions and consummately skilled performances. To quote from a google search on the etymology of “amateur”
‘The word “amateur” comes from the French “amateur”, which in turn comes from the Latin “amātor”, meaning “lover”. It originally described a person who loves and practices an activity for the passion of it, rather than for money.’
And there is the nub of it all – in this play, “King Lear” is being performed by a group of people that are doing so through love for the art form, and of course Lyn’s direction and perfect casting has brought together a group of amateurs performing this play for love of the art form. And talking of cast …
Gary Robson plays the allegedly professional Jefferson Steel, contracted to play King Lear himself, encapsulating the arrogance and insouciance of the Hollywood star in self denial to his waning star. He embraces the personality shift of his character’s journey from self centred egoist to life embracing acceptor bringing a palpable warmth to Steel’s persona. Steel’s daughter, Jessica, is delightfully and impishly played by Megan Hughes who herself moves her character’s unforgiving, surly teenager to loving offspring while taking the opportunities presented her with aplomb, as we can see mirrored in her deserved inclusion in the cast.
The inevitable ultimate love interest is superbly provided by Ange Davis as Dorothy Nettle, director of “King Lear”. Ange really drives the show along as the pivotal character for decisions and actions within the plot and she delivers this smoothly and thoroughly believably, with warmth and understanding when portraying Dorothy’s insecurities allied to the protagonist’s passion. Dorothy’s total opposite within the company is Nigel Dewbury, excellently represented by Matt Bragg as the loathsome, self promoting and supercilious solicitor with pretensions. Its kudos to Matt that he has created a perfectly toe curling portrayal of Nigel, as well as sporting an extremely fine collection of bow ties during the show!
Two more depictions of lovers of their art, both full of over the top keenness and desire to become closely associated with Steele are from Steve Brookes as handyman and low key jobsworth Denis Dobbins, and Claire Abraham as local B&B owner Mary Plunkett. Steve’s comic timing for Dennis’ daft ideas is sublime, and his mobility scooter driving skills are thoroughly fine tuned to boot! Claire is simply brilliant with her initially gushing and fawning spinster acting, turning to surly and spurned grump!
But all productions need finances and so enter stage left Louisa Davison as the slightly slimy, cocksure marketing type Lauren Ball whose husband’s brewery is bankrolling Steel’s visit, with appropriately named bottled beers including “King Beer”! Louisa encapsulates Lauren’s executive-going-nowhere-slowly persona with ease and aplomb.
The whole show is kept smoothly on the rails by Stage Manager Jess Sneider who also arranged the genuine beer bottle labels mentioned above, with tech delivered perfectly as ever by “The Tech Team” on the simple but highly effective set built by John Winterton and his team and all wrapped up with music by Sam Warner.
“A Bunch of Amateurs” is a simple to follow, laugh out loud, gentle and inoffensive comedy that will appeal to everybody – it’s easily worth the two hours plus interval of your life to sit back and enjoy the silliness in the lovely Wharf Theatre, Devizes.
“A Bunch of Amateurs” runs from October 13th to 18th at 7.30pm each evening, and tickets are available from https://www.wharftheatre.co.uk/show/a-bunch-of-amateurs/
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