GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY. To 6 August.

Aldeburgh

GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY
by Bill Cashmore and Andy Powrie

Jubilee Hall 2-6 August 2005
Tue-Fri 8pm Sat 5pm & 8.15pm
Runs 2hr 40min Two intervals

TICKETS: 01728 453007 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat 11am-2pm)
01728 454022 (Mon-Fri 6pm-8pm; Sat 4pm-8pm)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 28 July at St Edmund's Hall Southwold

Comedy's the strength in new plays on the Suffolk coast.These authors, well-known on stage to audiences in the Suffolk coastal towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh, produce that uncommon form, drama from the angle of mature people. Youngest featured character here is Simon Snashall's Barry, who turns 40 in the course of a round-world voyage with his parents.

The title conceals 3 one-act comedies; young Snashall is confined in the outer slices to walk-on ice cream-seller and cliché camp male Nurse in a retired actors' home. These outer plays have more sustained scenes, contrasted by the revue-like snapshots of Norman and Sheila's trip-of-a-lifetime.

Theatre oozes through the evening two of the pieces incorporate famous balcony scenes - and the first has a very local, Southwold resonance. The place is caught with fond references to its traditionalism except in the price of beach-huts. Jill Freud's Amber sums it up in her calm denial that she must have seen a lot of change over a half-century's holidaying here.

The plots follow familiar trajectories and the sentiment skirts sentimentality, or has a desirable warmth, according to taste. What's undoubted is the authors' skill with comedy. Lines never seem contrived, and laughter frequently storms spontaneously through the theatre - a tribute too to the rhythm and pace of Andy Powrie's production.

There's room to make more of the final play's Shakespearean insertion, to establish whether the scene recreates a 1950s production, or filters it through the present consciousness of either retired performer involved. That apart, here is a production that knows exactly how to make the most out of the opportunities the script offers.

And there are superb performances from Richard Howard and Gerry Hinks, twice set against each other. Howard brings brings understanding to dryasdust brother, Gerald, and ex-actor Michael, the latter as effective straight-man to Hinks' retired variety artist. Southwold favourite Hinks brings his 3 roles a neatly varied down-to-earth conviviality. His Nottingham Bob's too cheery to feel Gerald's brush-offs and his Tommy has a similar, yet distinct brio. A powerful presence, Hinks could easily make them, or the central play's husband, comic turns but always respects the character. Expert comedy, expertly acted.

Amber/Sheila/Yvette: Jill Freud
Bob/Norman/Tommy: Gerry Hinks
Gerald/Michael: Richard Howard
Ice-cream Seller/Barry/Nurse: Simon Snashall

Director: Andy Powrie
Designer: Maurice Rubens
Lighting: Robin Shephard-Blandy
Costume: Richard Handscombe

2005-08-01 10:41:51