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| Some of the cast from sandcastles |
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Sandcastles, performed by the Waterside Theatre
Company is a gentle comedy, very much in the same vein of “A Fine Romance”,
which is not surprising as it comes from the same pen of Bob Larbey.
Running until Saturday 29th October at the Waterside Theatre in
Holbury, it is well worth seeing. The characterisations are superb,
especially that of Bernice and Stan Billet played by Jenny Yapp
and David Ferguson.
“Posh Toffs,” William and Margaret Patterson, played
by John Yapp and Jennifer Edwards, contrast the “loud” couple
from Worcester Park. They have all been coming to the same
resort for years and just got around to calling each other by their
first names.
This year, Doug (Colin Pritchard) and his nubile nieces, Debs
(Lisa Allen) and Becky (Anna Biney), who are renting a beach hut,
join them, causing consternation. However, for Pauline, (Robyn
Whitman) who is getting over a broken romance, this holiday could
be the best thing for her.
The set has all the paraphernalia one would find on a typical
English beach holiday: the folding chairs, the table, picnic basket – oh
and don’t forget the “sparkling white wine” and
the newspaper to idle by the time, soaking up the sunshine.
That is, until the beach hut owners are flung into turmoil as
holidaymakers come to realise that the beach hut owner’s
self-imposed perimeter is not legal, leading to a hilarious showdown.
Interspersed between the main action, was the excellent performances
of the “Beach Promenaders,” who created very effective
drama sequences portraying the varied activities one can observe
on a typical beach. They began as the audience were arriving, and
throughout the play as well as during the interval and it was a “lovely
touch.”
There were the shell collectors, and the treasure trove hunter
who roamed the sand with his metal detector, not to mention the
toddler wanting to stay on the stage to finish his sandcastle – almost
throwing a wobbly in the process! There were the teenagers who
were trying to fly their kite and sulking as teenagers do when
one of them didn’t get it right, and who disturbed the peace
of the beach hut owners on more than one occasion!
Mother Billet was a treat, played by … a wonderful concoction
of a senior citizen plagued by the frailty of age and the annoyance
of being treated like a child by her offspring. Her acid tongue,
together with her increasing deafness punctuated the play with
marvellous one-liners.
If you get the chance to see Sand Castles– don’t miss
it! |
