Reviews
Report by: Barry Jones on Saturday 28 July 2018
Venue: Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond
Director: Lynne Kerr
“Why the hell do you do it?!” exclaims big-shot Hollywood actor Jefferson Steel to the amateur cast of the Stratford Players. To which he gets the pithy reply: “It gets us out the house”.
It’s obviously a bit more than this for the real cast of Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society who have just started their run of A Bunch of Amateurs at The Georgian Theatre Royal. They appear to do it because they love it and this passion comes across on the opening night of this very polished and entertaining production.
For those of you who don’t know the play (or missed the film of the same name starring Burt Reynolds and Derek Jacobi), this is the tale of washed-up American star Jefferson Steel who is deceived by his agent into playing King Lear at Stratford. Unfortunately for him, it turns out not to be the birthplace of the Bard and instead is a sleepy Suffolk village. Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench are nowhere to be seen and the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Steel’s arrogance and monstrous ego almost prevent him from submitting to such indignities as rehearsing Shakespeare in a barn, staying in a lowly B&B (without access to the obligatory leisure facilities), or swapping his customary limousine for a borrowed mobility scooter. But, with the help of his enthusiastic and dedicated co-actors, he slowly comes to rethink his pretensions and look at life in a whole new way.
It is a strong and cohesive cast that takes on Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s punchy script (the same team that brought us Spitting Image and Dawn French’s Murder Most Horrid). Miles Templeton takes on the role of Jefferson Steel (who is the epitome of the egocentric American) with nauseating accuracy. Indeed, much light-hearted humour is derived from the age-old rivalry across the pond. (“He’s a mate.” “You’re wrong. He’s an American!”) and one of the play’s funniest moments comes from the dispute over the pronunciation of asshole/arsehole.
The script’s killer comic dialogue is particularly well delivered by Gary Winn as Denis Dobbins – the down-to-earth handyman and village Mr Fixit – who displays perfect comic timing alongside his obsession with the scene in King Lear where Gloucester has his eyes gouged out as a punishment for helping the King escape. As anyone who has regular contact with teenagers will know, Martha Templeton gives a very accurate performance as Steel’s long-suffering and exasperated daughter and Julie Winn is perfect as the star-struck B&B owner and flamenco dancing enthusiast.
Always trying to steal the limelight from Steel, as well as the role of Lear, the pompous and indignant solicitor Nigel Dewbury is satisfyingly played by Warnock Kerr. Beki Stevenson is excellent as the breezy PR lady who is trying to push the beer of the play’s promoters (“I’ve tasted better spinal fluid!”) and Kath Torbet does an admirable job of trying to hold the play together as the long-suffering director.
This brings us to a final word from the real Director. In her notes, Lynne Kerr said she had been “looking for a light-hearted comedy which would entertain an audience on a (hopefully) warm balmy evening.” The opening night was on one of the hottest days on record and the audience was certainly entertained by this engagingly funny show, so full marks on both counts!
Report by: Rhoda Fraser on Thursday 26 July 2018
Venue: Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond
Director: Lynne Kerr
This is a play about a group of amateur thespians trying to save ‘The Barn Theatre’ that they rehearse and perform in. They have one last stab at fundraising and decide that if they could find a well-known actor, willing to help, by playing the part of King Lear, their troubles may well be over.
Jefferson Steel is an actor looking to revive his flagging career, grasping the opportunity to play King Lear at Stratford in order to raise his profile, he arrives at rehearsals to find things are not quite as he had hoped! It is not Shakespeare’s birthplace at all and the company are a group of amateurs!!! However he is persuaded to stay and the play develops into a good evening’s entertainment.
Lynne Kerr, a long standing member of RADS, directed this production; in my eyes she has the perfect cast. She told me that she has an excellent back-stage crew too: 11 scene changes in the second act! Well done Suzy Brown (Stage Manager) and your crew. That is no mean feat! A special mention to Mike Walker, his original music and arrangements, recorded by some of the cast, added fun to the scene changes.
Miles Templeton, playing Jefferson Steel, the ‘real’ actor, was the key player in this production. He joined RADS for “Journey’s End ”, so this is only his second time on stage. He continues to develop his acting skills and gave us a convincing portrayal of the ‘diva’ type actor; demanding five star treatment. The audience loved the mobility scooter as his ‘wheels to work’.
Gary Winn as Denis Dobbins drove the scooter on set; a brave move knowing what a rake the stage has! Gary managed to move with such loose limbs and actions, doubled with such gormless facial expressions, that he was a comedy to watch, even before he added any script – wonderful!
Julie Winn, playing the starry-eyed Bed and Breakfast owner, Mary Plunkett, who always muddled films she had seen, thinks that Jefferson had taken the lead role, when, in fact, he had not. Julie gave us so many laughs that the audience were always in anticipation of the next one!
Warnock Kerr, cast as Nigel Dewbury, the actor wanting to really play the lead, gave a confident and realistic performance; portraying a man who felt a little ‘miffed’ that some outsider had been brought in. Moreover this ‘has been’ actor doesn’t even learn his lines!
Kath Torbet, in the part of Dorothy Nettle, took on the difficult role of organising the cast and keeping them focused without losing her cool. She managed to portray this feisty woman very well.
Playing the part of Lauren Bell (backing the production), Beki Stevenson always managed to appear just as events were taking a turn for the worst. She gave us a lovely, bright and breezy portrayal of the young woman. In the role of Jessica Steel, Jefferson’s daughter, was his real life daughter, Martha, who was appropriately cast and worked well.
All in all a lovely fun night’s entertainment and if asked if I know any characters like the ones on stage, I might say…maybe…let me think!
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford - only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village. And instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers.
As acting worlds collide and Jefferson's career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself - along with his inner Lear!
