The Mill at Sonning, 20 October 2209.

“I’ll hold your programme while you’re driving!” She walked off with it – GGGrrrrrrr.  With my notes – double GGGrrrrrrr.

What exactly is a review ? Having said I will do a “review” I am not at all sure what that means. My opinion is what you are getting.

It was great, and I enjoyed it….. OK, then, a bit more. 

It was a modern day musical, with the feel good factor built in; about a modern day family trying to get rid of the old guy. Pushy wife of son, and accommodating daughter married to a “jack the lad”. There is a birthday (about a year after a bereavement) – and the first act sets the scene for what is to follow incredibly well.  There are 5 songs in act 1, and I think 9 in act 2 (no programme!!). The songs move the action along at a goodly pace; that doesn’t mean you ‘lose the plot’ as the theme is threaded throughout – mainly through the songs. Children wanting to oust parent – parent doesn’t want to let go – goes to dance club with friend – cannot dance – friend shows how – is seen by siblings – think Dad is gay  – all comes out afterwards – Dad seeing woman a year after bereavement – now that’s not permitted either. The comedy is in the spiralling confusion; and is actually everywhere – from the mild farce, to the mild pathos, to the mild bullying of “son” by pushy “wife”. Obviously it all comes good in the end.

The characters are all perfectly cast. The daughter with the ‘jack the lad’ husband, trying to pretend it is natural for the husband to be off on ‘business’ every night. Mind you, she tells him to call when he’s on his way home, which also gives her the opportunity to get rid of anyone she is entertaining. Does that sound cynical? The ‘pushy’ wife wants son to improve; and be dynamic, father finding a direction for his life in his ‘September’ years.

The theatre is well laid out, and the acoustics are excellent. The cast all had very personable voices, clear and musically acceptable to my tone deaf ear. The seats are OK for the 90 minutes you are in them. One BIG drawback – NO ICE CREAM IN THE INTERVAL. Coffee, drinks or tea, yes But this heinous lack of consideration for ice cream lovers is intolerable.

In conclusion – I enjoyed it enormously; it was witty, amusing and fast enough to keep you enthralled throughout. It was great.

Austin Maytham

October 2009

Upton Village Theatre Group

We have 59 people on our mailing list – and are happy to have more if you are interested – but only a select few are going to the Mill at Sonning in October to see a new musical, "That Old Feeling".  It is,  indeed, the smallest group we’ve had since we began, so I hope this is not  the beginning of an end.

We would expect to run another outing some time in February, and as always the Committee would be pleased to have suggestions.

Malcolm Wright   (850705)

THEATRE GROUP

The Committee has not been able to agree on a further outing – and the choice seems to have been pretty limited, too.  Am I right in thinking that we’d rather be entertained than challenged?

I’ll keep looking, though, and will welcome ideas to put to the Committee.

Malcolm Wright

On 11^th June Upton theatre group went by minibus to The Watermill Theatre at Bagnor, near Newbury, to see Noel Coward’s comedy ”Blithe Spirit”. Fortunately forewarned, the bus driver went via Wantage on the scenic route, to avoid massive hold ups on the A34.

Coward wrote the 3 act play in seven days, whilst on a working holiday in Port Meirion in 1941. The light hearted treatment of death caused controversy at the height of the London blitz. He described his idea as, “a very gay superficial comedy about a ghost”. It ran for 1,997 performances.

The Watermill’s revival was excellent, the well furnished set immediately giving a sense of the 1930s period. The casting was just right, all acting their part with aplomb, but Claire Vousden as Madam Arcati, the medium who unwittingly calls Elvira back from the “other side” after a seance, excelled. Throwing her gloves over her shoulders to the novice maid was a typical flamboyant gesture. Kelly Williams, playing the ethereal first wife Elvira, contrasted well with Charles Condomine’s more down to earth second wife Ruth, destined to join Elvira in the spirit world. This revival was much fun and enjoyed by all.

Joan Durbin

Oxford Playhouse Wednesday 18th March 2009

Earlier this month the Upton Playgoers went to the Oxford Playhouse to see ‘Life with Beth’ by Alan Ayckbourn. All of it was by A Ayckbourn. Script, direction, casting. We know, because the cast told us so. (It was Meet the Cast evening.) The acting was first class, and the setting was good old-fashioned proscenium arch and a set easily recognisable as a retired couples lounge/dining room.

The theme of the play, centred on Beth, who was mourning her recently deceased husband. Or was she? Her close family – and the Vicar – were determined that she was to be Consoled. But she did not need consolation. Beth conveyed in the subtlety of her stillness, that she had felt a weight falling from her shoulders. But her secret relief was not to be …

Not rib achingly funny, there were plenty of laughs in the first act. Ayckbourn has a way of peppering his stories with laughter to leven a more serious undercurrent. The emanation of Beth’s dear departed through closed doors, put a dampener on her future prospects!

We all enjoyed an evening with the best of contemporary writing and acting. Thank you Malcolm for once again choosing the production, and organising us to get there and back. J. J.

The trip to "Life and Beth" at the Oxford Playhouse went ahead as planned, and is recorded elsewhere.

Our next outing is to the Watermill to see Noel Coward’s "Blithe Spirit" on 11 June.  It was evidently a popular choice; there was an immediate flurry of cash and cheques after the announcement and only one ticket remains at the time of writing!

We’ll soon think of something for late September or thereabouts.  If an idea occurs to you do let me know.

Malcolm Wright 850705

I’m pleased (and relieved) to announce that all tickets for the Alan Ayckbourn play on 18 March are now sold. Arrangements for travel and distribution of the tickets will be decided much nearer the date.

And what are we doing in June or July? Shall we risk another open-air performance? Does anyone have any details? Otherwise the Committee will find something!

Do let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the mailing list.

Malcolm Wright 850705

malcolmwright@f2s.com

THE MAGIC FLUTE

Milton Keynes Theatre, 18 November 2008

Malcolm marshalled us outside the Village Hall at 1700 hours, from whence we made a rapid and comfortable journey to Milton Keynes in the minibus. We arrived there to enjoy a performance of Mozart’s "Die Zauberflöte" given by the Glyndebourne Touring Opera Company at the town’s impressive theatre.

"The Magic Flute" presents difficulties to describe and impossibilities to stage. The "story" ranges through circus, passionate love, comedy, drama and a serious attempt to address Mozart’s belief in Masonic Mysteries. For me, Schikaneder’s German text was totally incomprehensible. Fortunately, we were given a modern English translation in surtitles. This provided some aid to understanding the extraordinary events taking place on the stage beneath,

Overall the singing was good, in some places particularly so. It was accompanied throughout by fine orchestral playing. Just a few examples must suffice. The company is blessed with a sonorous male chorus and an outstanding lyric tenor in Lothar Odinius as Tamino. His muse Pamina (Ana James) also gave a splendid performance as singer and actress. The only wholly dramatic items in the piece are taken by the Queen of the Night. These famously challenging arias were handled by Mari Moriya who negotiated them with outstanding accuracy, a spectacular coloratura top and a strong mid-range soprano. The second act aria in particular drew from the house enthusiastic acclaim.

In conclusion, the company gave us a beautifully staged and costumed addition to their delightful account of Mozart’s wonderful score. We returned home warmed within.

Harry Prior

November 2008

Mill at Sonning,  31 July 2008

Like Chaucer’s Canterbury Pilgrims a happy band of theatre goers left Upton for Sonning by mini-bus on the evening of July 31st.  There was much chatter and merriment and exchanging of stories as we sped along the country roads. Dave our driver drove with care and did not panic when we came to an abrupt halt by a closed road almost on the doorstep of our destination.  With cheers and guidance from the back of the bus we threaded our way  back through the Reading rush hour traffic and in spite of our setback we arrived in time to enjoy an excellent meal most efficiently served.  Two more members of the theatre group joined us at dinner and three others for one reason or another were unable to come so we were 17 in all.

What a delight was to follow – “Love’s A Luxury“. The plot was highly improbable like all good farces, the dialogue was witty, the acting slick and the stage set attractive.  Molly the maid was wonderful and she and her two mothers stole the show.  In spite of all the usual misunderstandings there was a happy ending.   The New Look dresses and the Waspies were very nostalgic of the  early 1950`s and Mr Mole reminded me of a friend.  I had  not laughed so much  for ages.  Our journey home was uneventful and when we arrived safely back in Upton, Dave was thanked for his driving and Malcolm for arranging a most enjoyable evening.

Mary Wiley
August 2008

New Theatre, Oxford – 3 June 2008

Tuesday, 3 June was a very wet and very gloomy day, enlivened in the evening by a trip to Oxford with the Theatre Club to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Luckily, the rain was petering out by the time we arrived to catch the minibus.

Sixteen people in a bus-shelter might have been rather too cosy!

It made a refreshing change seeing lots of young people in the audience for this very modern interpretation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical. It was vibrant, energetic and very very loud. I think the majority of people enjoyed the performance – myself included. I thought it was terrific and would happily have gone back the following evening to see it again. A few were less than impressed, especially commenting on the volume of decibels reverberating round the auditorium. I’d have to agree, it really was a little loud, but perhaps that even added to my enjoyment of the evening?

Finalists from the recent – and not quite so recent – BBC1 programmes “I’d do Anything” and “Any Dream Will Do” took the lead parts. Tara Bethan (I’d do Anything) played the Narrator. Aide memoire for avid viewers of the programme:

Tara was the one whose father was a professional wrestler!). Craig Chalmers took the part of Joseph whilst Antony Hansen played Pharaoh (both finalists from Any Dream Will Do). You may recall Antony Hansen who lives down the road in Steventon and went to St Birinus School in Didcot.

As usual it was most agreeable to have everything laid on for us. All we had to do was turn up at the bus stop. Once again, many thanks to Malcolm for organizing it so efficiently.